sri lanka's commissions of inquiry - Law & Society Trust

5. SRI LANKA’S COMMISSIONS OF INQUIRY INTO
INVOLUNTARY REMOVALS AND DISAPPEARANCES:
THE THREE ZONAL COMMISSIONS
Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga and her People's Alliance were
voted into power in 1994 on a platform of human rights, peace and
democracy, which included a promise to address past violations of
human rights. Soon after assuming power, the new government began
the process of creating three geographically distinct commissions
(commonly referred to as “zonal commissions”) to investigate
involuntary removals and disappearances alleged to have taken place
from 1988. The geographic breakdown of the three Commissions was as
follows: (1) Central, North Western, North Central and Uva Provinces
(hereinafter “Central Commission”); (2) Northern & Eastern Provinces
(hereinafter “North East Commission”) ; (3) Western, Southern and
Sabaragamuwa Provinces (hereinafter “Southern Commission”). The
Commissions were appointed in November 1994 and commenced
sitting in 1995.
5.1 MANDATE
But for the geographic jurisdiction of each Commission, the mandates
of the three were the same.
…to inquire into and report on the following matters:
(a) whether any persons have been involuntarily removed
or have disappeared from their places of residence in the
[Central, North Western, North Central and Uva Provinces/
Northern & Eastern Provinces/ Western Province, Southern
Province and the Sabaragamuwa Province] at any time after
January 1, 1988;
(b) the evidence available to establish such alleged removals or
disappearances;
(c) the present whereabouts of the persons alleged to have been
so removed, or to have disappeared;
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