Featured News

2025-06-09

Newly discovered Chemmani mass grave: CHRD and victim families push for truth, justice, and international oversight

JAFFNA 2025: The discovery of a suspected mass grave near the Sindhubath cremation grounds in Chemmani, Jaffna, has revived long-standing demands for justice and accountability. Unearthed in February 2025 during crematorium construction, the site lies close to the original Chemmani mass graves associated with wartime disappearances and extrajudicial killings.

Following a petition filed by families of the disappeared, Jaffna Magistrate A. Judeson ordered court‑supervised excavation to begin on May 15, appointed Prof. Raj Somadeva to lead the forensic excavation, required regular reporting by the excavation team and Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) Dr. S. Piriniwan, and mandated police deployment to secure the site, while Prof. Somadeva—who used satellite imagery and drone footage to identify nearby areas of interest—emphasized the importance of adhering to strict scientific procedures, and JMO Dr. Piriniwan requested a 45‑day extension with a court-ordered cost estimate to ensure thorough DNA testing and preservation of evidence.

Representing the families are Attorneys C. Ranitha Gnanarajah and V.S. Niranjan, retained by the Centre for Human Rights and Development (CHRD). They continue to play a leading role in legal advocacy, site monitoring, and safeguarding victims’ rights throughout the process. “Our clients have waited decades for answers,” said Attorney Gnanarajah. “This site may contain the remains of people who disappeared in state custody. We are committed to ensuring a secure, transparent, and dignified process for the families.”

By early June, forensic experts had uncovered seven full human skeletons and 13 separate bone fragments, including the remains of a child under one-year-old. The findings meet the legal definition of a mass grave, according to Attorney Niranjan, who addressed the court on June 2.

“More than three individuals have been identified. The legal threshold for declaring a mass grave has been met,” Niranjan stated. “This has serious implications and must lead to further legal action.”

The court has ordered DNA testing of the remains and preservation of forensic evidence for possible criminal proceedings. Additional hearings are expected in the coming weeks to review progress and consider future investigations into alleged wartime atrocities. Meanwhile, public pressure is building. On June 5, families of the disappeared, university students, and human rights groups protested in Jaffna, calling for international monitoring and media access to ensure transparency.

“There is no trust in a purely domestic process,” said one demonstrator. “We need international observers to ensure justice is not delayed or denied.”

Despite growing evidence, the government has yet to comment on the discovery. For many, the unfolding events at Chemmani represent a key test of Sri Lanka’s commitment to truth and justice.

What happens here will define whether the nation is ready to confront its past—or once again attempt to bury it.