His Excellency the President
Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Subject: Request for Justice Regarding the Kumarapuram Massacre
On this solemn occasion, marking the 29th anniversary of the tragic Kumarapuram massacre, we, the surviving relatives of the victims, the general public, youth, civil society organizations, and human rights advocates from the Muthur Divisional Secretariat in the Trincomalee District, come together to earnestly renew our demand for justice for the victims of the Kumarapuram massacre.
On March 11th, 1996, 26 innocent lives—including those of women and children—were brutally taken through hacking, shooting, and sexual violence. Numerous others were grievously injured, and many homes were set ablaze. These horrific acts of violence persisted from 4:00 PM on that fateful day until after midnight.
It is an established fact that these atrocities were perpetrated by state military forces, including soldiers from the Kilivetti Thuraiyadi Police Camp, who were, to our dismay, familiar figures within our community. This has been clearly documented in the judicial investigations that were held in Muthur and Anuradhapura, during which we identified the perpetrators of these heinous crimes.
However, we contend that the legal process surrounding these killings was conducted in such a manner that shielded the military from accountability. The trial took place in Anuradhapura, a region that was perilous for us to enter, being overwhelmingly populated by Sinhala civilians. At a time of intense ethnic strife, providing testimony against the Sinhala military in Anuradhapura posed grave personal risk to us.
Although we formally requested that the trial be relocated to the Trincomalee District, our request was denied. This speaks volumes about the government’s disregard for the safety and well-being of the witnesses and victims involved.
A total of 108 witnesses from our village were summoned to appear in court. However, due to our economic struggles, limited understanding of the Sinhala language, and the unsafe conditions in our village, it became exceedingly difficult for us to attend court hearings in Anuradhapura over the years. Additionally, the environment within our village during the investigations was far from secure. Our every conversation was monitored by government intelligence agencies, further exacerbating already tenuous situation.
After nearly two decades of relentless pursuit of justice, we placed our hopes in the promise of “good governance” under the administration that assumed office in 2015. With these hopes, we gave testimony in the Anuradhapura court over an 11-day period from June 25th to July 3rd, 2016. Some of us were compelled to remain in the witness box for as long as four hours at a stretch. Nevertheless, the Sinhala jury ultimately acquitted the accused, granting them immunity from punishment. Once again, justice was denied to the victims.
Excellency President!
For the first time in Sri Lanka’s history, your leadership has ushered in a government with an overwhelming mandate to serve the people. We firmly believe that under your stewardship, the necessary political will and authority exist to bring resolution to the many issues we have endured.
In spite of the injustices we have faced, we have continued to seek justice from every successive government over the last 29 years. The people of Kumarapuram suffered immense violence at the hands of the military during a period of intense ethnic conflict, and it is crucial that the history of our pain is neither forgotten nor overlooked.
In this context, we remind you that the Sri Lankan government bears responsibility for the atrocities and human rights violations that occurred on its soil. As the head of the government, we call upon you to give our case the attention it deserves and ensure that justice is finally served to the victims of the Kumarapuram massacre.
On this 29th anniversary of the massacre, we respectfully reiterate our demands for justice:
- The case must be reopened for further investigation.
- Adequate protection must be provided for both witnesses and victims.
- The government should bear the costs associated with witnesses’ travel and other related expenses.
- A guarantee of non-recurrence must be issued, with the government taking appropriate steps to prevent such atrocities in the future.
We, the people of Kumarapuram, Kilivetti, and Muthur, await your prompt attention to this matter and implore you to act decisively to bring about the justice we have long been denied.
Sincerely,
The People of Kumarapuram, Kilivetti, and Muthur.
Trincomalee District. Sri Lanka.
