News
Constitutional Council to decide on OMP members shortly
The Constitutional Council (CC) will meet shortly to decide on the seven members to be appointed to the Office of Missing Persons (OMP).
A CC member said that no date has been fixed for their next meeting but, should be within the next few days, as the OMP Act has become operational from this week.
The President, in his capacity as Minister of National Integration and Reconciliation, issued a gazette on Wednesday, making the provisions of the OMP Act operational. The Bill was certified by the Speaker in August 2016.
The OMP Act specifies that, when making the appointments to the OMP, the CC will have to ensure it reflects the pluralistic nature of the Sri Lankan society and that, the persons are ones with previous experience in fact finding or, investigation, human rights law, international humanitarian law, humanitarian response or, possess other qualifications relevant to the carrying out of Members of the OMP will be appointed by President Maithripala Sirisena on the recommendation of the CC. The Chairman will also be named by the President.
Members appointed to the OMP will each serve a three-year term. Their salaries will be determined by Parliament and charged to the Consolidated Fund.