On 19 June 2026, the Association for Relatives of the Enforced Disappearances (ARED) of Sri Lanka’s North and East Provinces submitted an appeal to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the United Nations Human Rights Council. Representing families of those who remain missing following Sri Lanka’s armed conflict, the letter expresses continuing concerns over the absence of truth, justice, accountability, and answers regarding enforced disappearances. It calls for independent international investigations, international oversight of mass grave excavations, and meaningful measures to ensure non-recurrence of human rights violations. The appeal reflects the longstanding demands of affected families who, after nearly two decades of seeking justice, continue to await credible investigations and the establishment of the fate and whereabouts of their loved ones.
Letter follows below:
Association for Relatives of the Enforced Disappearances
North & East Provinces
Email: [email protected]
Kandy Road, Kilinochchi
Tp – 070 390 8668
Date: 19.06.2026
To the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
United Nations Human Rights Council
Geneva, Switzerland
19 June 2026
We Appeal for International Justice
We, the family members of the enforced disappeared from the Northern and Eastern Provinces of Sri Lanka, wish to bring the following matters to your urgent attention.
Although seventeen years have passed since the end of the armed conflict in Sri Lanka, we have not received truth or justice through any mechanism. More than four hundred mothers, fathers, and relatives who struggled for justice have passed away without knowing the fate of their loved ones.
Before we too pass away, we call upon the international community to intervene and ensure that independent and credible investigations are undertaken to establish what happened to the victims of enforced disappearance and to determine their whereabouts. This remains our fundamental demand.
We categorically reject the recent statement expressed by the Minister of Justice of Sri Lanka regarding the issue of enforced disappearances. Our position remains clear: truth must be established, justice must be delivered, and guarantees of non-recurrence must be ensured.
Thousands of families have been struggling for truth and justice for the past seventeen years. However, the Government appears to be attempting to administratively close the issue of enforced disappearances through compensation schemes, death certificates, and other administrative measures.
Compensation cannot substitute justice. Any compensation provided without establishing the truth effectively denies the victims’ families their right to justice.
We express serious concern that the resources allocated to the Office on Missing Persons (OMP) and the Office for National Unity and Reconciliation (ONUR) are being used to administratively close the issue of enforced disappearances rather than ensuring truth and accountability.
We further wish to highlight that the rule of law is not being upheld equally in Sri Lanka.
The granting of bail to a Buddhist monk accused in the sexual abuse case involving a fourteen-year-old girl in Anuradhapura raises serious concerns.
At the same time, there have been incidents in which Tamil religious leaders who sought to protect their traditional lands were treated in a degrading manner by security forces.
The arrest of a young man from Kilinochchi under the Prevention of Terrorism Act merely for singing a song constitutes a threat to freedom of expression.
Although the Government pledged to repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act, attempts to introduce new repressive legislation instead are contrary to democratic principles.
These incidents raise serious questions regarding whether equal justice is being afforded to all communities in Sri Lanka.
Furthermore, during the third phase of excavations at the Chemmani mass grave site, more than 380 human skeletal remains have so far been uncovered. These findings constitute important evidence relating to wartime and post-war human rights violations.
Under these circumstances, we have no confidence in domestic investigations. Therefore, independent and credible forensic investigations with international oversight must be undertaken.
Accordingly, we respectfully appeal upon the international community and the United Nations Human Rights Council to:
- Ensure an independent investigation into enforced disappearances with international oversight.
- Ensure that all mass graves, including Chemmani, are examined with the participation of international forensic experts.
- Identify and hold accountable those responsible for human rights violations and alleged war crimes.
- Guarantee truth, justice, and accountability for affected families.
- Undertake legal and political reforms to ensure non-recurrence.
- Repeal laws that undermine fundamental rights, including the Prevention of Terrorism Act, and enact legislation consistent with international human rights standards.
Ms. Y. Kanagaranjini
President
Association for Relatives of the Enforced Disappearance
North & East Provinces
Sri Lanka
Ms. C. Jenitha
Secretary
Association for Relatives of the Enforced Disappearance
North & East Provinces
Sri Lanka
Copies to:
- Secretary-General of the United Nations
- Member States of the United Nations Human Rights Council