Turning point for justice and reconciliation?

. “The families of the disappeared have waited too long. The OMP will document at least ten thousand disappearances from before 2000 so that no life lost to enforced disappearance is erased from history.” In doing so it will be important to begin with the several presidential commission of inquiry reports that had been published on this and which the report of the last presidential commission to inquire into the past, the Nawaz Commission report of 2024 has summarised with recommendations.

- BY JEHAN PERERA

For decades voters have heard promises of integrity, justice and accountability. These promises have come with every election, but they have invariably ended in disappointment.

Investigations have faltered, commissions have been wound up, and the very leaders who promised to end corruption and impunity have too often joined the ranks of those who perpetuated them. The NPP government is now making the point that it will do its utmost to deliver on its promises and commitments. The arrest of former president Ranil Wickremesinghe on charges of misspending government resources was perhaps to make this point.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake who is the government's best communicator has countered the notion promoted in sections of the social media and political discussion that the government is not united on the issue of accountability. He has made it clear that the government will go ahead with pursuing those guilty regardless of the political fallout. Referring to the arrest of the former president he said, "This case is not politically motivated. We will not step back from our duty. Those who have abused public resources will face the consequences, whoever they are." This assertion has drawn a line that many previous governments shrank from crossing.