- Mass Graves in Sri Lanka. Historical Context: Sri Lanka’s landscape of mass graves reflects decades of violent upheaval. From the 1971 and 1988–89 JVP insurrections to the 26-year civil war, mass graves have surfaced across the country—often accidentally during construction. Over 32 sites have been identified since the 1990s, yet few have been fully investigated. Victims include youth, civilians, and suspected insurgents. Most graves remain unmarked, unprotected, and unacknowledged by the State.
- Impunity and Institutional Failure: Investigations into mass graves have been obstructed by political interference, lack of forensic capacity, and absence of legal mandates. Magistrates and forensic experts have been transferred, judicial orders delayed, and families denied access to sites. No Commission of Inquiry has been tasked with investigating mass graves. This systemic failure has denied truth and closure to thousands of families.
- 1996–1998. Chemmani Revelation: Following the military’s recapture of Jaffna in 1996, hundreds of Tamil civilians reportedly disappeared. In 1998, Lance Corporal Somaratne Rajapakse, convicted in the Krishanthi Kumaraswamy rape-murder case, revealed that 300–400 bodies were buried in Chemmani. His testimony brought international attention to the site.
- Excavation and Initial Findings: Court-ordered excavations in July 1999 uncovered 15 skeletons. Forensic analysis confirmed violent deaths. Although Rajapakse was convicted for Krishanthi’s murder, no one was held accountable for the Chemmani mass grave. Investigations stalled, and further excavations were not pursued. 3 skeletons were identified by the relatives.
- 2000–2024. Institutional Silence: Despite civil society pressure, successive governments failed to pursue forensic follow-up or prosecutions. Chemmani remained excluded from transitional justice mechanisms, and no reparations or truth-seeking processes were initiated for affected families. If excavations continued, there is a possibility of more skeletons being identified.
- February 2025. Rediscovery of Remains: Construction workers at the Ariyalai Siththupaththi crematorium in Jaffna uncovered human remains. The Jaffna Magistrate ordered a formal investigation. This marked the first renewed state-led excavation of Chemmani in over two decades.
- March–August 2025. Excavation and Evidence: Nearly 250 human remains were exhumed, including children’s skeletons and personal items like bangles, toys, and schoolbags. The site was confirmed as a mass grave. Remains are currently stored at the University of Jaffna’s forensic department. No skeleton or other remains have been identified.
- August 2025: HRCSL Fact-Finding Mission. The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) conducted a two-day mission to Chemmani. It observed forensic procedures, met with families, and identified institutional gaps. HRCSL emphasized the need for independent investigation and victim-centered justice.
- HRCSL Recommendations (September 2025) HRCSL called for:
- Independent investigative body
- International forensic expertise
- Protection of families and witnesses
- Creation of a national DNA bank
- Transparent communication and dignified handling of remains
- Recognition of Chemmani as part of systemic enforced disappearances
- OHCHR & ICJ Recommendations (2025) The OHCHR and ICJ urged Sri Lanka to:
- Ensure investigations comply with the Minnesota Protocol
- Guarantee family participation and dignity of the dead
- Enable international oversight and technical support
- Treat Chemmani as a critical test of Sri Lanka’s transitional justice credibility
- Legal and Political Challenges: Despite renewed excavations, no public commitment has been made to prosecute perpetrators. The CID and JMO face resource constraints. Families continue to demand truth, justice, and reparations, while civil society calls for UN involvement. Deputy Minister of Defence, Major General Aruna Jayasekara, stated that no war crimes were committed during Sri Lanka’s civil war.
- Chemmani in Context: Chemmani is now one of 17 officially recorded mass graves in Sri Lanka. It symbolizes the enduring legacy of impunity for wartime abuses. With over 60,000 unresolved disappearances nationwide, Chemmani remains a litmus test for Sri Lanka’s accountability mechanisms.
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