A protest was held this morning along the A9 Kandy–Jaffna Road outside the Chemmani mass grave excavation site in Jaffna, as a visiting European Union (EU) delegation toured the area.
The demonstration was organised by the Association of the Relatives of the Enforced Disappeared, the Jaffna University Students’ Union, Tamil political representatives, and members of the public.
Protesters said the demonstration was intended to draw the EU delegation’s attention to the ongoing excavation at the Chemmani mass grave and to broader concerns surrounding alleged mass graves and enforced disappearances in Sri Lanka.
During the protest, participants called for the Chemmani mass grave and all other alleged mass grave sites across Sri Lanka to be investigated through an independent international justice mechanism.
They also urged the international community to support efforts to establish truth, justice, and accountability for the families of victims of enforced disappearances, arguing that an international process is necessary to ensure credible investigations.
Protesters stated that they have no confidence in Sri Lanka’s domestic justice system, contending that successive governments have failed for decades to provide truth and accountability for alleged wartime abuses and disappearances.
The demonstration coincided with the visit of the EU delegation to the excavation site, where forensic investigations into recently uncovered skeletal remains are continuing under court supervision.
The Sri Lankan government has previously maintained that domestic institutions are responsible for investigating cases involving missing persons and alleged human rights violations, while victims’ groups and several human rights organisations have continued to advocate for greater international involvement in accountability efforts.
