Families of the Disappeared Write to UN Human Rights Chief
21-Jun-2026.
Relatives of forcibly disappeared persons have written to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, calling for excavation work at all mass grave sites, including Chemmani, to be carried out with the participation of international forensic experts and for independent investigations under international supervision into enforced disappearances.
The appeal follows a visit by Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara to the Chemmani mass grave site on June 19.
A protest demanding international justice and monitoring of investigations into the Chemmani mass grave was organised near the Chemmani Sithupathi Hindu Cemetery by associations representing families of the disappeared from the Northern and Eastern Provinces.
In their letter, the families stated that despite 17 years having passed since the end of the war, neither truth nor justice had been delivered through any mechanism.
They noted that more than 400 parents and relatives had died while seeking answers about the fate of their loved ones.
The letter calls for independent and credible investigations capable of revealing the truth regarding the disappeared and urges the international community to intervene.
The families rejected recent comments made by the Justice Minister regarding disappearances and reiterated their demand for truth, justice and guarantees of non-recurrence.
They alleged that government efforts appeared focused on compensation, death certificates and administrative measures rather than uncovering the truth.
The letter stressed that compensation could never replace justice and that financial assistance without truth and accountability amounted to a denial of victims’ rights.
The families also expressed concern that institutions established to address disappearances and reconciliation were being used to obscure the issue rather than ensure accountability.
They further alleged unequal application of the rule of law, citing recent legal developments in a child abuse case in Anuradhapura and incidents involving Tamil religious leaders.
The letter also criticised attempts to introduce new security legislation despite earlier commitments to repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act.
It noted that more than 380 human skeletons had reportedly been uncovered at the Chemmani site and argued that these remains could constitute crucial evidence of wartime and post-war human rights violations.
Given these concerns, the families stated that they lacked confidence in domestic investigations and called for credible international forensic investigations under international supervision.
