Families of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Sri Lanka’s Northern Province observed a shutdown on February 25, demanding justice for war-time human rights abuses, reports The Hindu. According to sources in the Northern Districts, most schools, shops and business establishments were shut, in an act of solidarity with the relatives of missing persons, some of whom have been agitating continuously for two years now in Kilinochchi District. The University of Jaffna was also closed, and public transport services came to a halt. Thousands took to the streets, holding placards with messages such as “Where is my son?”, “UN, do not give additional time for Sri Lanka for war crime investigations”, and photographs of their missing relatives.
Almost all political parties representing northern Tamils and Muslims extended their support to the rally, local media reports said. The shutdown comes just as the 40th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) begins in Geneva, where a core group of countries, including the UK, Canada and Germany, will likely put forth a new resolution on promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka. The move is expected to give Sri Lanka more time to fulfil its earlier assurances to the Council.