NEW MASS GRAVES Discovery in Sampoor, Sri Lanka (July 2025)

New Mass Grave Discovery in Sampoor, Sri Lanka (July 2025)

Overview

On 20 July 2025, workers from the British demining organisation Mine Action Group (MAG) uncovered human skeletal remains at a children’s park in Sampoor, located in Sri Lanka’s Trincomalee district. The discovery occurred just metres from the site of a notorious massacre carried out in July 1990, when government forces reportedly killed dozens of Tamil civilians. Immediate judicial intervention has been ordered to secure the site and launch a full archaeological investigation.

---

Discovery Details

• Date of discovery: 20 July 2025
• Location: Children’s park in Sampoor, Trincomalee district
• Organisation involved: Mine Action Group (MAG) during landmine clearance
• Remains found: Multiple skeletal elements, including a human skull
• Initial action: Suspension of all clearance work until 23 July to enable forensic examination and archaeological excavation

---

Historical Context

On 7 July 1990, Sri Lankan military forces are accused of executing at least 57 Tamil civilians—many of them women and children—near Sampoor beach. In the broader offensives that summer, more than 150 Tamils are believed to have been killed in the Trincomalee area. Despite repeated calls for accountability, no meaningful investigations or prosecutions followed those events, leaving families without closure.

---

Judicial Response

Moothur Magistrate M. M. Nasleem visited the Sampoor site immediately after the discovery. Following a preliminary inspection, he ordered all clearance operations to be halted until 23 July. This suspension aims to facilitate a coordinated forensic and archaeological excavation under court supervision, ensuring that evidence is properly documented and preserved for potential legal proceedings.

---

Reactions and Calls for Investigation

Families of the victims and human rights organisations have renewed demands for an internationally monitored, independent forensic inquiry. They argue that only transparent, expert-led examinations can establish the identities of the deceased, determine causes of death, and pave the way for accountability. The recent finding—so close to the massacre site—has reignited calls for Sri Lanka to permit UN observers and independent experts to oversee the process from excavation through to any prosecutions.

---

Timeline of Key Events

Date	Event	Details
7 July 1990	Sampoor Massacre	Government forces allegedly shot and hacked to death at least 57 Tamil civilians
20 July 2025	Skeletal remains discovered	MAG demining team uncovers bones and a skull during clearance at a Sampoor children’s park
21 July 2025	Magistrate’s site visit	Moothur Magistrate M. M. Nasleem orders suspension of clearance work until 23 July
23 July 2025 (TBC)	Excavation and forensic analysis	Planned resumption of work under judicial and international forensic supervision

---

Next Steps and Recommendations

1. Formally invite international forensic experts and UN observers to participate in the excavation and identification process.
2. Establish a DNA collection programme for families of the disappeared to enable scientific identification of remains.
3. Ensure transparent public reporting of findings, including artifacts, burial patterns, and forensic results.
4. Coordinate with the Attorney General’s Department to prepare any necessary legal actions against perpetrators once identities and causes of death are established.
5. Engage civil society groups and victim families in oversight committees to build trust and accountability throughout the investigation.

The Sampoor discovery represents both a solemn reminder of past atrocities and an opportunity for Sri Lanka to demonstrate genuine commitment to justice, truth, and reconciliation. Properly conducted, this investigation could break decades of impunity and offer long-sought closure to grieving families.

STAY TUNED FOR MORE UPDATES.

Edited by: Wimal navaratnam, July 21, 2025

---

📌 Disclaimer

This publication includes detailed information regarding the discovery and investigation of mass graves in Sri Lanka, particularly Chemmani and related sites. The content draws from publicly available sources, eyewitness reports, judicial proceedings, and expert analysis current as of July 2025. It is intended for educational and awareness purposes only. While care has been taken to ensure factual accuracy, ongoing investigations may yield new findings that update or clarify these accounts.

The references to enforced disappearances, war crimes, and state responsibility reflect the perspectives and allegations made by victims, human rights advocates, and independent bodies. These statements do not constitute definitive legal judgments, and all individuals and institutions mentioned are presumed innocent unless proven guilty by due process. Readers are encouraged to consult primary sources, legal reports, and international human rights documentation for further context.

---

✍️ Editor’s Note: A Call for Justice

In the soil of Chemmani lie stories that were silenced for decades. From infants buried with schoolbags to parents lost in the night — each unearthed skeleton is a testimony to lives stolen and voices suppressed. But the earth has begun to speak again.

We urge Tamil readers and global allies to stay informed, engaged, and vigilant. The renewed excavations in Jaffna signal a crucial moment — not just for evidence, but for truth. Mass graves spanning the North and East of Sri Lanka represent a dark legacy, and the time has come to transform mourning into momentum.

Follow every development. Share these stories. Press your elected leaders, international organizations, and legal forums to pursue justice without delay. The silence of the past must not continue into the future.

The call is clear: Let justice rise from the graves.

     In solidarity,

     Wimal Navaratnam

     Human Rights Advocate | ABC Tamil Oli (ECOSOC)

      Email: tamilolicanada@gmail.com