A Tamil mother, who spent 12 years searching for her missing son who was forcibly disappeared, died in Mullaitivu.
Kanagamani Suntharalingam – a mother of five from Kaiveli, Puthukkudiyiruppu – passed away on Thursday from an illness-related death.
She frequently took part in protests led by the families of the disappeared, seeking justice for her missing son. Mrs Suntharalingam, who has been searching for her son Sureshkumar Suntharalingam that was forcibly taken by the Sri Lankan government at the end of the armed conflict, has been involved in protests since 2012.
The protests and hunger strikers conducted by the families of the disappeared over the years have urged international actors to deliver accountability and justice for their missing relatives.
Over 75 mothers and relatives have passed away while searching for their loved ones over the last few years. Despite the continuous protests and hunger strikes by the families of the disappeared, the Sri Lankan government is yet to provide answers or justice for the thousands of enforced disappearances.
