The protest was organised by the Committee for investigation of the disappeared (CID) in commemorating the International Human Rights Day.

Director, Committee for investigation of the disappeared CID, Gunasena Wijesinghe recalling the past said that current rulers in the country once appeared for the disappeared persons.

He said that politicians Vasudeva Nanayakkara , Mahinda Rajapakse and people like himself were imprisoned while fighting for human rights in the past.

"Mahinda Rajapakse is now the President of the country with Vasudeva Nanayakkara becoming an adviser; but now we have to appear for about160 complaints of killings that took place under this government." Wijesinghe said.

Some of the relatives said that no details were available about most of the disappeared during the 87 - 89 period and they are too still waiting to hear about their loved ones.

The government says that all complaints received on disapearances are investigated by the Police.

Responding to the demand by the Committee for investigation of the disappeared to compensate the families of dissapeared, head of the government peace secretariat Professor Rajiv Wijesinha told the BBC Sinhala service that compensations cannot be decided on complaints alone.