Today’s Update on the Chemmani Mass Grave (25 July 2025) Edited by: Wimal Navaratnam, Human Rights Activist Ongoing Excavations Excavations at the Chemmani–Siththupaththi Hindu Cemetery continue under Sri Lankan court supervision. To date, forensic teams have identified 90 skeletal units, with 81 fully exhumed over 29 workdays and 16 complete skeletons unearthed just this week. In the most recent phase (20 days in), two designated forensic zones—Site 01 and Site 02—yielded two new sets of remains and the full excavation of five additional skeletons. Clearing operations in surrounding areas suggest more graves may be uncovered in the coming days. The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) formally took over site investigations on 24 July, replacing local Jaffna police oversight. Early reports note disputes arose at the dig when CID officers arrived, though details remain scarce. Forensic Findings Personal items interred with the remains provide poignant clues: children’s toys, g...

Diplomatic Advocacy Dossier:  Advancing Tamil Rights and Accountability at the UN General Assembly Edited by: Wimal Navaratnam, Human Rights Activist, July 24, 2025 Background The Sri Lankan civil war (1983–2009) ended with a brutal military campaign that crushed the Tamil separatist insurgency but at enormous human cost. In the final months of the war, tens of thousands of Tamil civilians were killed amid indiscriminate shelling of supposed “no-fire zones” and other atrocity crimes. A UN Secretary-General’s panel found credible evidence of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by both government forces and the Tamil Tigers (LTTE), including widespread shelling of civilians, executions of surrendering persons, and the LTTE’s use of human shields. UN inquiries later acknowledged that up to 70,000 Tamil civilians may have perished in the war’s final phase. The conflict’s legacy left vast destruction, deep ethnic grievances, and thousands of missing persons. After the...

Sampoor Unveiled: Military Campaigns and Civilian Carnage (1985–2009) Tracing the Convergence of State, Rebel, and Foreign Forces in Trincomalee’s Most Contested Territory ⚖️ Disclaimer This article is intended solely for scholarly, educational, and humanitarian purposes. The views expressed herein belong to the author and are offered in good faith to contribute to ongoing dialogue and advocacy in the field of human rights and transitional justice. No part of this work is meant to injure or malign any individual, group, institution, ethnicity, faith, or political entity. The information provided draws from historical records, survivor accounts, and public domain sources, and is presented with the intent to further investigation, accountability, and the protection of human dignity . Readers are encouraged to verify, critique, and expand upon this content to promote informed advocacy, rigorous scholarship, and justice for communities affected by conflict and displacement. ...