The competition began on the International Day of the Disappeared yesterday (30).
AI requests that entries in Sinhala, Tamil or English languages be submitted before October 30.
The panel of judges in the competition includes Gamini Viyangoda, Liyanage Amarakeerthi, Dr. Sunil Wijesiriwardena, V.I.S. Jayapalan, Swaminathan Wimal.
AI says tens of thousands are presumed to have disappeared in the conflict between the Tamil Tigers and the military which ended in 2009, and in an earlier counter insurgency campaign by the security forces against leftists in 1989-90.
Very few cases have been resolved and there has been blatant intimidation reported against families who have dared to ask questions about the whereabouts of their loved ones.
Several commissions have been appointed by successive governments since 1990 implicating leading politicians and high ranking officers in the police and security forces.
However, the authorities have mostly ignored recommendations that these figures, some of whom remain in their positions, should be prosecuted.
