Mano writes to rehabilitation minister Chandrasiri Gajadeera on three rehabilitated youths gone missing

( May 15, 2012, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) “Some of the 1,800 rehabilitated youths supposed to have been released on September 30th last year at the state function held at Temple Trees have not reached home. Contrary to claims of the government, family members of the three youths say that they were not invited to the ceremony nor their detainee sons were handed over to them. Kindly look into the matter and let me know the whereabouts of the youths whose name details I am sending herewith.

Said civil monitoring commission convener and DPF leader Mano Ganesan in a urgent letter sent to Minister of Rehabilitation and Prison Reforms Chandrasiri Gajadeera. The letter further says,

Government information department described the function as the ‘demonstrative event of the government’s good and genuine intentions in addressing the issue of the detainees’. US ambassador Patricia A. Butenis, Indian HC Ashok Ashok K Kantha and former Australian HC Kathy Klugman with other dignitaries participated in the high profile ceremony and were seen on stage issuing skills certificates to certain youths.

The state officials said that a delay in readiness of issuing certificates prevented the youths joining the parents the same day, but it would occur in a matter of days. But now it is more than seven months now but the youths have not reached homes as pledged.

I am referring to three youths whose families have approached me seeking my assistance in tracing Kerbert Morino Leon Roxy, Savarimutththu Anton Hudson Lorantine and Murugesu Muruganandan. These youths seated in the assembly seen in the photos published in the media.

These youths, according to the parents, were forcefully abducted by LTTE and they managed to escape and surrendered to the security forces in Mannar in year 2008. The parents have not seen them since then. Therefore they have gone missing for the last five years. Please help me to address this issue.