Tamils must AWAKE NOW: Who is Organizing the Brotherhood Day in Jaffna – Organizers, History, and Black July Context?   Organization’s History The annual Brotherhood Day event on July 23 in Jaffna is organized by the Socialist Youth Union (SYU) , which is the youth wing of the leftist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP). The JVP (People’s Liberation Front) was founded in 1965 as a revolutionary socialist movement and later became a political party after two armed insurrections. By the mid-2000s, the JVP revamped its youth and student fronts – including the SYU – to mobilize young people around social justice and ethnic harmony. Notably, the JVP itself was one of several leftist parties banned by the government in late July 1983, scapegoated for “inciting” the very anti-Tamil riots that it actually opposed. This repression forced the JVP underground during the Black July period. In the post-war era (after 2009), the re-emerged SYU and JVP actively championed reconciliation, deter...

Chemmani ‐ Sinthupaththi Mass Grave: Latest Excavation Discoveries and Human Tragedy Recent Excavation Discoveries (July 22, 2025) in Chemmani, Jaffna After decades of dormancy, the second phase of excavations at the Chemmani–Sinthupaththi mass grave site in Jaffna resumed under court order in mid-2025. The work, overseen by Jaffna Magistrate A.A. Anandarajah along with forensic experts Dr. Pranavan Selliah and Prof. Raj Somadeva, quickly yielded grim findings. By the 17th day of digging (22 July 2025) , archaeologists had unearthed eight additional human skeletal remains from the clandestine burial pits, one of the largest single-day recoveries so far. This brought the total recovered in the renewed excavation to over 70 skeletons (up from 65 when work was paused on July 10). Crucially, some of the newly uncovered skeletons were identified as children , underscoring the poignant nature of the discovery. Forensic investigators noted the small stature of several skeletons and the pr...

Executive Summary Pursuing Accountability: Engagement of United Nations Systems with Sri Lanka's Tamil Human Rights Crisis (2009–2025) 📣 Introduction This Executive Summary offers a strategic preview of a forthcoming dossier titled Pursuing Accountability: Engagement of United Nations Systems with Sri Lanka's Tamil Human Rights Crisis (2009–2025) , which will be officially released on August 01, 2025 . It encapsulates over a decade of Tamil advocacy across United Nations mechanisms and distills key lessons from formal UN resolutions, evidence-gathering processes, and diplomatic engagement. The dossier charts Sri Lanka’s post-war trajectory, highlighting how Tamil voices have shaped the international justice agenda and how UN systems—ranging from the Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to treaty bodies and Special Procedures—have evolved in their response. It assesses outcomes achieved, avenues not yet explored, and recommends a forward-looking strategy for stakeholders committ...

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 Historica...

Developments on Sri Lanka’s Chemmani Mass Grave and Accountability Efforts 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 ...