Sivasubramaniam Raveendranath

Sivasubramaniam Raveendranath (born 22 February 1951) is a Sri Lankan Tamil academic and the Vice-Chancellor of the Eastern University of Sri Lanka. He disappeared after attending a conference on 15 December 2006 in a high-security zone in Colombo and was last seen leaving the conference after receiving a telephone call. His current whereabouts are unknown and his family have claimed that they believe that he has been killed.

Disappearance Raveendranath had been with the Eastern University of Sri Lanka since its inception but he had to give his resignation following threats and the kidnapping of Dean Dr. K. Balasukumar to the University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman.

Local media have reported that there are allegations that gunmen belonging to the paramilitary organisation Tamil Makkal Viduthalia Pulikal (TMVP) have kidnapped him.

Reactions Amnesty International issued an appeal expressing concern

Robert J. Quinn Director Scholars at Risk Network issued an appeal to president Mahinda Rajapakse

The staff of the Eastern University of Sri Lanka went on strike demanding his release.

Government investigation The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) investigation revealed that the initial threats to him came from an armed group suspected to be the TMVP. Raveendranath's driver has been detained and it is alleged that he had received telephone calls from people "believed to be" members of the TMVP. Human rights watch states majority of disappearances involve Sri Lankan security forces and paramilitary groups like the TMVP led by Karuna and the government response has been inadequate. A member of the Civil Monitoring Committee on Extra Judicial Killings, Abductions and Disappearances, Mano Ganeshan said that