On the occasion, tearful relatives described how their loved ones were taken away from their families.

S.M. Premaseeli of Hambantota said murders, forced disappearances and tortures took place not only in the north, but also in the south.

She said she had been taken away, hung and subjected to torture no woman could endure.

Describing the disappearance of her 17-year-old daughter, Jeyawanitha of Vavuniya said she should still be living as an election propaganda poster showed her with the incumbent president.

People from all parts of the country gathered for the remembrance under the theme ‘ensuring justice only will prevent recurrence of disappearances’.

146,660 missing due to war

President of the association Brito Fernando said the Mannar Bishop placed the number of the war-missing at 147,660.

However, the missing persons commission has received information about a mere 16,000 persons, he claimed.

Surrounding Mano Ganeshan, a regular participant at the remembrance, and now a minister, relatives places their grievances before him.

He said he has been advised by the prime minister to look into the issue of the missing persons, BBC Sandeshaya reports.