The term of the Presidential Commission investigating alleged disappearances of persons in the Northern and Eastern Provinces has been extended to Feb. 15, 2015.

The attention of the External Affairs Ministry has been drawn to an incident that occurred at the Centre for Society and Religion in Colombo on 4th August. According to reports, a meeting had been organized by the NGO “Right to Life Human Rights Centre” involving families of disappeared persons from the North. However, another NGO, “Parents’ Collective of Disappeared Persons”, had sought access to the meeting, demanding that their grievances be heard too. An ensuing argument had led to a tense situation which had subsequently been brought under control by law enforcement authorities. Several diplomatic representatives from western Missions based in Colombo had also been present at the event.

The World Justice Project (WJP), based in Washington DC, in its 2014 Rule of Law Index has ranked Sri Lanka 48th among 99 countries assessed by the Project. The WJP Rule of Law Index is an assessment tool that offers a comprehensive picture of adherence to the rule of law, using experts and general populations of countries to assess issues of government accountability, fundamental rights, openness of government and access to justice.