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

egarding certain army camps. Included in
Volume I of the Final Report is a 453-page
list of the names of the disappeared, names
of complainants, addresses of complainants
and relationship between the disappeared and
complainant.
Volume II of the Report includes the findings
of special inquiries into key cases relating
to disappearances and killings in the said
Provinces. The cases involve abductions and
killings where large numbers disappeared
during a short time period, as well as a case of
the disappearance of a high profile journalist.
BRIEF STATEMENT OF FACTS:
The Commission was one of three zonal Commissions appointed in
1994 to inquire into involuntary removals and disappearances since
January 1, 1988.
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS:
The Report of the Southern Commission presents the most detailed
documentation of disappearances by the State to date and explores
patterns and practices of the State that give rise to disappearances
and other grave violations of human rights. It provides a detailed and
disaggregated statistical analysis, as well as a comprehensive legal
analysis and sociological analyses of the impact of disappearances on
certain groups and on society. As directed by its mandate, the Report
considers both the past and the future, and contemplates prevention in
a holistic framework.
According to the Report, there were eight thousand seven hundred
and thirty nine complaints received, of which one hundred and ninety
one were from returned detainees and twelve were of physical injury.
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