• Institutes to genuinely focus on unity and reconciliation

The Government stated that it aims to restore and strengthen public trust in mechanisms for national unity and reconciliation, such as the Office on Missing Persons (OMP), which it claims were undermined during previous administrations. 

Speaking to The Daily Morning, Deputy Minister of National Integrity Muneer Mulaffer said that institutions like the OMP had been used by previous governments for political appointments. Under the current Government, he said that these institutions would become genuinely focused on achieving national unity and reconciliation. 

“Everything has changed now. The situation is not like it was 10 years ago. We need to adapt to these changes and implement programmes. We plan to collaborate with other relevant agencies, such as the Ministries of Mass Media, Sports, and Cultural Affairs, to fulfill the true objectives of institutions like the OMP,” he said. 

Due to issues such as making appointments based on political interests, he said that the public trust in structures such as the OMP has been undermined during previous governments. 

“There is a lack of trust in these mechanisms within the community. To address this, confidence must be restored through discussions. These institutions have been working in a slow manner, and speeding up the processes is also necessary. There was no definite government policy to promote unity, harmony, and brotherhood during former governments. We will be rectifying these issues,” Mulaffer explained.

In the past, Sri Lanka has established several entities such as the OMP, the Office for National Unity and Reconciliation, the Office for Reparations, and various commissions aimed at promoting national unity and reconciliation. These structures are intended to heal divisions, provide justice for victims, and promote understanding between ethnic groups; but, their effectiveness is questioned by many.