In February 2025, during routine construction work at the Siththupaththi Hindu cemetery in Chemmani, near Jaffna, workers stumbled upon human skeletal remains. What began as an isolated incident soon evolved into a national reckoning. A court-ordered forensic investigation, initiated in the following months, revealed 19 skeletons—three of them belonging to infants. Personal belongings found among the remains indicated that the burials had been abrupt, likely concealing violent deaths.
This tragic discovery reopened one of Sri Lanka’s darkest chapters: the unresolved human rights violations committed during its decades-long civil war.
A Site Long Shadowed by Allegations
The name Chemmani has haunted the Tamil community for decades. In 1998, Lance Corporal Somaratne Rajapakse, who was convicted for the abduction, rape, and murder of Tamil schoolgirl Krishanthi Kumaraswamy and her family, testified about mass graves in the area. According to Rajapakse, hundreds of Tamil civilians who disappeared after the military recaptured Jaffna in 1995–1996 were buried in secret mass graves.
In 1999, amid international scrutiny, excavations led to the discovery of 15 bodies. Some bore signs of assault and murder. However, further investigations were delayed or abandoned, and the Chemmani site remained largely unexamined—until now.
UN High Commissioner Volker Türk Visits the Site
On June 25, 2025, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, visited the Chemmani site during an official tour of Sri Lanka. He met with families of the disappeared and attended a vigil held at the mass grave. Türk laid flowers in memory of the victims and listened to the testimonies of grieving relatives.
“Truth and justice are essential foundations for reconciliation,” Türk said. He stressed the importance of allowing independent forensic investigations into the site and reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to supporting transitional justice in Sri Lanka. The visit marked a significant moment of international recognition of Sri Lanka’s unresolved wartime past.
(Source: UNTV / UNifeed, 25 June 2025)
Reignited Demands for Justice
The Chemmani discovery has reignited calls from human rights groups, civil society organizations, and victim families for transparency, accountability, and justice. Activists have urged the government to allow international forensic teams and human rights observers to oversee the exhumations and ensure that evidence is preserved and properly investigated.
For many Tamil families, this site is not just a grave—it is a missing piece in their decades-long search for answers. Thousands of disappearances remain uninvestigated. For those still waiting, Chemmani offers painful validation of their worst fears.
A Larger Pattern of Unresolved History
Sri Lanka’s civil war, which lasted from 1983 to 2009, claimed over 100,000 lives—most of them Tamil civilians. The war’s final months, in particular, were marked by brutal military offensives and heavy civilian casualties. United Nations reports estimate that at least 40,000 civilians were killed during the final phase alone.
Chemmani is not an isolated case. Other suspected mass graves, such as in Mannar and Mullaitivu, suggest a wider pattern of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings. Despite multiple government commissions and promises of reconciliation, genuine accountability remains elusive.
New Discoveries in July 2025
By the beginning of July 2025, ongoing excavations at Chemmani unearthed a total of 33 skeletons, with 22 of them fully exhumed and preserved for forensic analysis. However, by mid-July, that number surged to over 70 skeletons, including infants, toddlers, and school-aged children.
On July 22, a particularly heart-wrenching discovery was made: the skeletal remains of a young girl—estimated to be around four to five years old—were found still wearing a faded school bag, with toys and personal belongings by her side. At least three infant remains (below one year of age) were also among the latest findings, suggesting the massacre and burial of entire families.
In a significant update, authorities identified a second mass grave site—referred to as Forensic Excavation Site No. 02—adjacent to the original site, expanding the area under investigation. Court-authorized forensic teams are continuing their search under supervision from the Jaffna Magistrate.
These discoveries have intensified public demand for transparency, international forensic support, and recognition for the victims.
A Call for Dignity and Human Rights
The renewed focus on Chemmani underscores a universal truth: every human life holds intrinsic value. Regardless of ethnicity, religion, or political belief, all individuals are entitled to fundamental rights—chief among them, the right to life, the right to dignity, and the right to truth.
The graves at Chemmani are not just remnants of the past—they are a demand from history that Sri Lanka reckon with its legacy. Only by facing the truth with courage and compassion can the country move toward a future built on justice, trust, and unity.
As the world watches, Chemmani asks a profound question: What is the worth of a human life? The answer must be reflected not only in words, but in action, remembrance, and the relentless pursuit of justice.