(January 25, 2013, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajpaksa today dismissed reports that persons had disappeared in the north during the conflict.
Mr Rajapaksa was speaking after Army Commander Lt Gen Jagath Jayasuriya handed over a report of the Board of officers on the Implementation of the recommendations made by the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC).
He said that during last stages of the conflict there were some 5,800 soldiers killed in action and in a similar manner there were LTTE cadres killed on the other side.
‘For the parents who lost them they are missing persons’, he said. He said all persons who surrendered have been accounted for.
The Defence Ministry released a two paged statement containing the recommendations made by the Board, but the full report will be released only after it is handed over to President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
To re-evaluate all military disciplines such as infantry tactics, special operations, artillery fire, to formulate new domestic rules covering internal war situations, forces developing proficiency in two or more languages and placing the Sri Lanka Police under the Defence Ministry are among the recommendations.
 Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajpaksa today dismissed reports that persons had disappeared...){kind=link}