A gazette was issued on 02 January for a draft act for the formation of a Truth, Unity and Reconciliation Commission.
It spells out provisions for the commission’s formation, powers and responsibilities as well as the implementation and regulation of its recommendations.
In 2015, foreign minister at the time Mangala Samaraweera said that Sri Lanka would adopt a unique reconciliation mechanism as per the 30/1 Geneva proposals submitted to the UN Human Rights Council in that September.
Accordingly, a 12-member task force led by Manouri Muttettuwegama sought views and proposals from the public on how that process should be.
Its report recommended the setting up of the Office for Missing Persons, Office for Reparation, Truth, Unity and Reconciliation Commission as well as a mechanism for accountability for a lasting peace.
Accordingly, the Office for Missing Persons was set up in 2017, followed by the Office for Reparation in 2019.
However, the prevailing political situation prevented the formation of the Truth, Unity and Reconciliation Commission.
Now, the State Printing Department has issued a gazette of the draft act for its formation on the orders of incumbent foreign minister Ali Sabry.
