Public sittings in Mannar district will be held on August 08 and 09 in Manthai West, in Mannar on August 10 and in Madhu on August 11.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa recently appointed internationally renowned legal luminaries - Sir Desmond de Silva, Sir Jeffrey Nice and Professor David Crane - to serve on an Advisory Council to the Commission.

Chairman of the Presidential Commission to Investigate into Complaints Regarding Missing Persons Attorney Maxwell Paranagama said obtaining advice from international experts on human rights violation and international humanitarian law will improve the transparency of the Commission and the recommendations made by the Commission will receive international recognition.

The Chairman said the Commission will maintain international standards during investigations on missing persons.

"We will conduct independent, direct, internal investigations and submit report to the government," the Chairman said.

The three-member Missing Persons Commission, comprising Attorney Maxwell Parakrama Paranagama as Chairman, Mrs. Suranjana Vidyaratne and Mrs. Mano Ramanathan, has been given the authority to conduct inquiries and investigations into complaints of missing persons, and submit a report to the President.

The Advisory Council will advise the Commission, at their request, and may include other experts appointed by the President as and when necessary.