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as the disseminators of “LTTE propaganda.” 107 On the other hand, the authorities
made numerous pledges to investigate and stop the abuses. To date, however, the
steps have failed to yield tangible results.
On September 15, 2006, the president’s office announced the creation of a special
police unit to investigate abductions, “disappearances,” and ransom demands. 108 A
few days later the president announced the creation of a one-man commission
consisting of former judge Mahanama Tillekeratne to look at abductions and
enforced disappearances across the country. Judge Tillekeratne submitted his
interim reports to the president on December 12, 2006 and March 23, 2007. The
government has not made either report public.
In a media briefing on June 28, 2007 Judge Tillekeratne said that 430 civilians had
been killed between September 14, 2006, and February 25, 2007, almost all of them
Tamil. Many of the victims were shot through the head with their hands tied behind
their backs, he said. 109 In addition to the deaths, 2,020 people were abducted or
“disappeared” during those five months, he said (1,713 “disappeared” and 307
abducted). An estimated 1,134 were later found alive (1.002 of the “disappeared”
and 132 of the abducted) but the fate of the rest remains unknown.
Judge Tillekeratne said that he recommended the government take strong action
against policemen who had failed to investigate complaints of abductions and
“disappearances.” According to evidence before the commission, he said, the police
had not recorded some complaints even after complainants had come to the police
station multiple times. 110
107 For example, in a March 2007 press interview Human Rights and Disaster Management Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe
responded to accusations of abductions by dismissing it as the LTTE’s “propaganda strategy” used to “paint a bleak picture
internationally to bring pressure on the government so that our resolve will be weakened.” See “You cannot expect everything
to be normal,” The Nation (Colombo), March 18, 2007.
108 “Special Police Unit to Probe Incidents of Killing,” Office of the President media release, September 15, 2006,
http://www.slembassyusa.org/archives/main_index_pages/2006/sl_govt_takes_18sep06/pr_presi_secre_15sep06.pdf
(accessed May 15, 2007).
109 “US Concerned about Disappeared,” BBC Sinhala.com, and Official website of the Government of Sri Lanka, “Majority of
‘Disappeared’ Had Returned—Commissioner,” June 29, 2007,
http://www.priu.gov.lk/news_update/Current_Affairs/ca200706/20070629majority_of_disappeared_had_returned.htm
(accessed July 27, 2007)
110 Susistha R. Fernando, “Majority of ‘Abductees’ Found to Have Returned,” Daily Mirror (Colombo), June 29, 2007.
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