The United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances said it has formally communicated to the authorities its concerns.

"In the past two months alone, the Working Group has sent 22 urgent actions to the Government. Out of those cases, 18 disappearances took place in May. The Working Group is also concerned that both women and humanitarian aid workers are being targeted", the Expert Group said.

The Expet Group say that the number may be lower than in reality, as the group estimates that many other disappearances may be occurring in Sri Lanka but are not being reported because of fear of reprisals.

Despite the supposed willingness of the Government to address the issue of enforced disappearances, little progress has been made, the Working Group said.

Take effective measures

The Working Group calls upon the Sri Lankan authorities to take effective measures to prevent and terminate acts of enforced disappearances and to carry out thorough investigations and to bring the perpetrators to justice.

The Working Group, whose mandate is to determine the fate and whereabouts of disappeared relatives, "regrets that it has not been able to visit Sri Lanka, and reiterates its request to the Government to extend an invitation to visit the country without delay".

The Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances was created by the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in 1980 to assist families in determining the fate and whereabouts of disappeared relatives.