London, 2nd July 2025 –
A powerful statement issued today from the British Parliament has called for urgent international action over the mass graves uncovered in Chemmani, Northern Sri Lanka, highlighting decades of unresolved war crimes against Tamil civilians.
Dame Siobhain McDonagh MP, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Tamils, released the statement on behalf of the House of Commons, expressing grave concern over the latest developments in the excavation of mass graves in the region. The statement links the graves to atrocities committed during the Sri Lankan civil war and urges the United Nations to uphold its own mandates for justice.
According to the statement, the excavation of the Chemmani mass graves has already uncovered 33 skeletons, including those of children. Notably, one of the remains was found with a blue UNICEF school bag, suggesting the victim was a school-going child. The graves are believed to contain the remains of hundreds of Tamil civilians allegedly murdered by the Sri Lankan military.
The mass grave was first revealed in 1998, during the trial of Lance Corporal Somaratne Rajapaksa, who was convicted for the rape and murder of Tamil schoolgirl Krishanthy Kumaraswamy. During his testimony, Rajapaksa confessed to the existence of mass burials near Chemmani, implicating fellow soldiers in the killings of hundreds of Tamils. Despite his confession, the site remained largely uninvestigated until recent years.
The British statement warns that the delay in excavation and lack of international oversight risk the destruction or tampering of critical forensic evidence, potentially hindering justice efforts. All remains uncovered so far have been taken into custody by the Sri Lankan Government’s Judicial Medical Officer, prompting concerns from human rights groups over transparency and accountability.
Referring to UN Human Rights Council Resolution 46/1, adopted in 2021, Dame McDonagh stressed that the international community has a mandate to collect, analyse, and preserve evidence of human rights violations in Sri Lanka. She emphasized that the UN Office in Sri Lanka must act immediately to secure the Chemmani evidence in accordance with international standards.
“As a co-sponsor of Resolution 46/1 and a country with a historic responsibility to justice and reconciliation in Sri Lanka, the United Kingdom must take the lead on this issue,” she stated.
The statement concludes with a strong appeal for an international investigation to ensure that those responsible for the Chemmani massacre and similar atrocities are identified, prosecuted, and brought to justice. It reiterates that the responsibility lies not only with Sri Lanka but with the entire international community, as enshrined in UN commitments.
The Chemmani case has long symbolized the impunity surrounding crimes against Tamils during and after the Sri Lankan civil war. This latest call from the UK Parliament is expected to intensify global pressure on Colombo to cooperate with international justice mechanisms and confront its past.
Eelaththu Nilavan | 02/07/2025
