Sri Lanka's recently elected President Gotabaya Rajapaksa officially declared those who were reported as missing from the civil war as dead as an attempt to provide closure to families and the country as well. The civil war started out from rebellion against the Sri Lankan government over the independence of the Tamil Eelam state in the northeastern region of Sri Lanka and lasted for about 26 years before the Sri Lankan military defeated the rebellion (also known as the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) in 2009.
President Rajapaksa released a statement mentioning that the missing are dead and, "I can't bring back the dead," in hopes of closing one of the bloodiest chapters of the country's history while also squandering the hopes of some friends and families who are still waiting for their loved ones to return. Rajapaksa's blunt statement is not unusual considering the fact that he was the Sri Lankan's Secretary of Defense in the final years of the civil war and was the one who led to the harsh and urgent defeat of the rebels. Some accuse Rajapaksa of gross human rights abuses considering the actions he took to end the war.
Given the circumstances of Rajapaksa's statement, about 24,000 death certificates will be issued to the families of those who are still missing from the civil war. Despite the certificates, some families still hold onto the initial certificates of absence that were issued shortly after the war. Some families still make the effort to search for their loved ones while others are still waiting for a body of proof.
‘I Can’t Bring Back the Dead’: Sri Lanka Leader Ends Search for War Missing
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