In yet another incident highlighting the Sri Lankan state’s ongoing harassment of Tamil activists, Manuel Uthayachandra, the President of the Mannar District Families of the Disappeared organization, faced an attempt by Sri Lankan police to arrest her while she was away from her home.

The Sri Lankan police arrived at her residence in Mannar and informed her family that she was to be arrested and should immediately report to the police station. At the time, Uthayachandra was in Colombo receiving medical treatment.

Upon learning about the situation, Uthayachandra later visited the police station on her return. There, she was informed that she had to either pay a fine of Rs. 100,000 or warned she may face further consequences.

Uthayachandra's 24-year-old son who was forcibly disappeared in 2008. She has been searching for him ever since.

The latest incident this week points to an ongoing pattern of harassment, intimidation, and arbitrary arrests targeting Tamil activists and human rights defenders in the North-East. Sri Lanka’s authorities, particularly its intelligence services and police, have long been persecuting Tamil activists, especially those advocating for justice for victims of enforced disappearances. The Families of the Disappeared, a group largely composed of Tamil mothers, wives, and relatives searching for their missing loved ones, has faced relentless intimidation.

Last week, Selvarani Thambirasa, the head of the Association for Enforced Disappearances (AERD) in Amparai, also came forward to reveal that she had been interrogated by Sri Lankan police. During the interrogation, Thambirasa was accused of helping to “regroup the LTTE,” an allegation that has been used repeatedly by the Sri Lankan government to silence Tamil activists.

Thambirasa, much like Uthayachandra, has been a key figure in efforts to locate victims of enforced disappearances. Her commitment to uncovering the truth has put her in the crosshairs of the Sri Lankan authorities.

Earlier this year, Human Rights Watch (HRW) raised alarms over the Sri Lankan government’s treatment of Tamil families of the disappeared. In a press release, HRW noted that the government continues to "resist any progress to address the terrible legacy of enforced disappearances, and instead compounds the anguish of victims’ families." The organization highlighted the ongoing protests by families of the disappeared across Tamil regions, where the state’s response has been intimidation and harassment rather than justice.

Meenakshi Ganguly, Deputy Asia Director at HRW, underscored the plight of these families, stating, “The relatives of the disappeared experience the daily torment of not knowing what happened to their family members, which state agencies have cruelly compounded by trying to silence them. Hundreds of mothers, wives, and others have passed away without learning what happened to their loved ones, and many more fear they might not live to see justice done.”

Despite the ongoing harassment, the Tamils have remained resolute in their campaign for justice. Since 2017, Tamil families have been continuously protesting across the North-East to uncover the truth about their loved ones.

Jaffna Teaching Hospital held an event today to commemorate the Tamil staff and patients that were massacred by the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) at the hospital 37 years ago. 

Jaffna Teaching Hospital held an event today to commemorate the Tamil staff and patients that were massacred by the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) at the hospital 37 years ago. 

At least 68 civilians, including 21 medical personnel, were killed by Indian troops as they stormed the hospital building on the 21 and 22 October 1987, throwing grenades and firing indiscriminately at staff and patients. The building had been shelled by artillery before the raid.

Among the 21 medical personnel, nurses and hospital staff who were massacred were two nurses, paramedics, a supervisor, three then leading medical specialists, Dr A Sivapathasuntharam, Dr K Parimelalahar and Dr K Ganesharatnan. Also killed were 47 patients receiving treatment. 

Witnesses recall seeing Dr Sivapathasuntharam attempting to surrender with a group of fellow doctors and nurses. He was executed by Indian troops.

Read one account, as retold in The Broken Palmyrah, below: 

"We were in the radiology block in the tea room at that time. The whole place was crammed with people including the patients from the evacuated ward 7 as well. We heard the noise of firing coming closer. But we were sure that even if the Indian Army entered, they would check us, and then explanations could be offered. Dr. Ganesharatnam who was with us went out of the room. Some of our colleagues were still in the wards. The noise of the firing was drawing very close. All around us was the noise of firing. We realised the danger and lay flat on the floor.

The Indian Army came firing into the Radiology Block and fired indiscriminately at this whole mass of people huddled together. We saw patients dying. We lay there without moving a finger pretending to be dead. We were wondering all the time whether we would be burnt or shot when the bodies of the dead were collected.

In the night we heard few bursts of fire. Most of the time we heard them moving on the floor above, where out quarters were situated. We were like this for almost 18 hours until 11:00 a.m. the next day.

Another eyewitness said:

All through the night as I lay awake I heard noises, voices, an occasional spray of shooting above our heads or a grenade thrown. I heard a child cry: "Amma (mother), tea, tea, tea."

Another baby screamed. I thought maybe the mother had died. Another woman said: "My legs are numb. They are cold. There is a corpse on it. Please remove it." Unable to bear her moans, I shouted: "Please anybody near her, can't you remove the corpse? Are you deaf?"

The woman continued to moan ... till in the morning I knew the reason for the silence. All those around and the woman herself were dead. One man was reciting the Hindu religious work, the Sivapuranam, and was calling out: "Long live Rajiv. Long live Indira Gandhi."

Sri Lanka’s foreign minister Vijitha Herath acknowledged the growing problem of the island becoming a hub for international cybercrimes, warning that its shaky economic recovery might be impacted.

“We have to see if Sri Lanka is a cyber crimes hub,” Herath told reporters, “and whether our financial system is being affected by this.”

His remarks came as police raids in recent weeks have led to the arrests of over 200 foreign nationals, predominantly Chinese, along with Indian and Thai nationals, who were operating sophisticated cyber fraud networks across multiple locations, including Kandy, Avissawella, Rajagiriya, and Negombo.

Sri Lankan Police Spokesman Nihal Thalduwa seemed more frank in his assessment alongside the minister, stating that

“It could be a sociological reason; many groups in Sri Lanka are easily enticed by messages, and are gullible.”

“People in economic difficulties can be enticed into earning quick money.”

He went on to warn those that were renting out properties on the island. “When renting out a property to foreigners, pay attention to what it will be used for,” he said, though added that many landlords are well aware of the criminal activity taking place. “That’s the sad part.”

“Don’t think only of the money,” Herath added.

One such scam operation was discovered in Kandy, where over 70 rooms in a hotel were booked to house individuals involved in these illicit activities.

The raids are so large that it has prompted the Chinese embassy in Sri Lanka to issue a statement.

“These crimes not only endanger the property of our two peoples but also damage China’s international image and affect the traditional friendship between our countries,” the embassy said in a statement. “We stand ready to strengthen our cooperation in law enforcement to tackle this issue jointly.”

Ironically, while Sri Lanka is becoming a haven for foreign scammers, its own citizens are falling prey to similar schemes abroad. A growing number of Sri Lankans, desperate to escape the country’s economic collapse, have been trafficked into cybercrime camps in Myanmar, where they are forced to engage in ‘pig butchering’ scams.

These scams, which target victims through emotional manipulation and false promises of romance or investment opportunities, have ensnared countless people worldwide, and the Sri Lankan government is now working to rescue its citizens from these exploitative camps. Earlier this year, Sri Lankan authorities rescued 20 Sri Lankans who were trapped in cybercrime operations in Myanmar, following cooperation with ASEAN countries.

The Jaffna University Students' Union warned that dissatisfaction is brewing among Tamil youth as they slammed the current political class for failing to push forward Tamil nationalism, and leaving the Tamil people feeling abandoned by their leaders.

In a press conference last week, the students said there was a political vacuum in Tamil Eelam which has persisted since the end of the armed conflict, and is today exacerbated by corrupt governance. This leadership gap, coupled with the lack of youth participation in Tamil politics, has contributed to a growing sense of dissatisfaction among the Tamil population they said.

The students warned that a significant change is coming amongst the youth of the North-East and that their sentiments cannot be ignored by Tamil political parties and politicians. The real transformation, according to the students, lies in removing those who have falsely represented Tamil nationalism while promoting agendas that are detrimental to Tamil political self-determination.

The students went on to caution against viewing mainstream Sri Lankan political parties as an alternative to Tamil politics, even if they market themselves as anti-corrupt or as proponents of change. Doing so, they argued, would be tantamount to political suicide for the Tamil cause. This, they argued, distracts from the ongoing military occupations and land grabs in the North-East, undermining the Tamil people’s long-standing struggle for liberation. The students said that voting for southern parties or independent candidates without concrete political programs would only derail the Tamil people's journey toward genuine political freedom.

They cautioned Tamils from falling prey to rhetoric and urged youths to remain vigilant and committed to the principles of Tamil political sovereignty. They reiterated that the path forward lies not in aligning with mainstream Sri Lankan political interests but in building a new, Tamil national political culture that honestly represents the aspirations of the Tamil people.

Sid Sriram joined a long list of illustrious names to perform at the O2 Arena on the Greenwich Peninsula, last Sunday, to mark his biggest UK solo concert to date. The multi-talented versatile singer adds another feather to his musical journey progressing from last year’s performance at the OVO Arena, Wembley. 

Sid Sriram reimagined the songs that first brought him into the spotlight, blending rock elements into his melodies with the help of his lead guitarist and drummer. In a unique approach, he not only performed tracks from his playback singing career but also paid homage to classic Tamil hits from the 1990s, including Kannalane, Oru Deivam Thantha Poove, and Nila Kaigaradhu—a tribute to A.R. Rahman, the composer who first introduced him to the Kollywood music industry. The band brought Sid’s vision to life, as the inclusion of the Nadhaswaram, a traditional Indian wind instrument, elevated the deeply soulful melodies, elegantly contrasting his competing Carnatic raga improvisations.

Eelam Tamil Artist Pritt was opening for his show, and performed songs from her catalogue alongside a live ensemble.  

Sriram also delivered a moving rendition of Thiruppugazh, a Tamil religious hymn dedicated to Lord Murugan. Reflecting on his journey, he shared how his spirituality has profoundly influenced his music and creative direction. In a touching finale, he invited his mother on stage, acknowledging her as his greatest musical influence. Sid was able to resonate equally with audiences across generations, from the teenagers drawn in by his chart-topping Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam hits as well as endearing himself to the older generation, who cherished his deep respect for his Carnatic roots.

Throughout the show, Sid repeatedly expressed his affection for the UK, even stating, "it feels like home here." His remarks echoed sentiments from an August interview with the Tamil Guardian, where he spoke warmly of his UK fanbase, particularly highlighting the enduring support from Eelam Tamils. That deep connection was evident in his heartfelt performance of Oru Deivam Thantha Poove, a song from the film Kannathil Muthamittal, which is based on the Tamil Eelam struggle.

In an interview with the BBC, Sid has expressed his ambition to bring Tamil-language music and his Carnatic roots to a global audience. His performance at the packed O2 Arena is a significant milestone, making him the first Carnatic singer since A.R. Rahman to achieve such a feat. With plans to release his own original Tamil music soon, Sid is poised to act as a ‘cultural bridge’, extending his musical influence into the Western world. Audiences are eager to see how he will continue to blend tradition with contemporary appeal on the international stage.

Today marks 24 years since Tamil journalist Nimalarajan Mylvaganam was murdered in his Jaffna home.

Nimalarajan contributed to the BBC for over six years, as well as the Tamil daily Virakesari and Sinhala weekly Ravaya.

He was murdered as he was writing for the BBC at home one evening. According to the BBC,

His father was repeatedly knifed and his mother and young nephew badly injured by a hand grenade explosion in their sitting room.

All this took place during curfew hours in a high security zone in Jaffna close to several military check points.

The Committee to Protect Journalists stated shortly after his death:

“The assailants shot the journalist through the window of his study, where he was working on an article, and threw a grenade into the home before fleeing the premises. The attack occurred during curfew hours in a high-security zone in central Jaffna town.”

“Local journalists suspect that Nimalarajan's reporting on vote-rigging and intimidation in Jaffna during the recent parliamentary elections may have led to his murder.”

The government-aligned paramilitary group the Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP) are suspected of carrying out the killing. The Sri Lankan Attorney General's department ordered the release of the suspects involved in the murder case. At least two other suspects were thought to have been abroad.

In February 2022, the Metropolitan Police’s War Crimes Team arrested a 48-year-old man in Britain over Nimalarajan's murder. The man was later released.

Read more here: British war crimes police arrest man over murder of Tamil journalist in Jaffna

Former BBC journalist Frances Harrison recalled his death, and the struggle to get justice for it, in a 2004 piece towards the end of her time on the island.

She detailed the night Nimalarajan was killed.

Two armed men burst into Nimalarajan's house as he was listening to the news on the BBC Tamil service at night.

One man shot Nimalarajan five times in the head and chest. The other knifed his elderly father; the medical report said he had thirty three centimetres of cuts on his face and neck.     

Nimalarajan's mother came out of the bathroom to see her husband and son bleeding on the floor. At that point, the attackers tossed a hand grenade into the sitting room.

The mother and nephew were badly injured. The gunmen departed, firing in the air as they went.

All this, a short distance from a military checkpoint and during curfew hours.

Read more in her piece here.

The Committee to Protect Journalists stated shortly after his death:

“The assailants shot the journalist through the window of his study, where he was working on an article, and threw a grenade into the home before fleeing the premises. The attack occurred during curfew hours in a high-security zone in central Jaffna town.”

“Local journalists suspect that Nimalarajan's reporting on vote-rigging and intimidation in Jaffna during the recent parliamentary elections may have led to his murder.”

His mother, Lily Theres Mylvaganam, who fought relentlessly seeking justice for her son, passed away in Canada in 2021. His father, Sangarapillai Mylvaganam, told Reporters Without Borders in 2010,

“This has been 10 years of suffering for our family. But my son’s memory is still alive. I would like people to remember him as a courageous journalist who served his community. The government could relaunch the investigation into my son’s murder if it wanted to. It is a question of political will.”

“We want justice to be done.”

Selvarani Thambirasa, the head of the Association for Enforced Disappearances (AERD) in Amparai, spoke out about her interrogation at the hands of the Sri Lankan police last week, where she was accused of helping to regroup the LTTE.

Selvarani has been at the forefront of efforts to locate victims of enforced disappearances, and this is not the first time she has faced such intimidation. Sri Lankan authorities, particularly intelligence services and police, have routinely harassed and intimidated members of organizations like AERD, along with their families.

Listen to her own words, with English subtitles, via Lankafiles below. Full translated transcript below.

"They talk about finding justice for those who disappeared before coming to power, but after they gain power, they show their true colours."#Tamil mother grilled by #SriLanka anti-terror police over 'spearheading moves to resurrect the LTTE" speaks of her ordeal. [SUBTILES] pic.twitter.com/HFb11ChOD8

— LankaFiles (@lankafiles) October 14, 2024

It is being alleged the LTTE is re-emerging in India and France, and that I am acting as a leader in Sri Lanka. They claim that the LTTE movement is resurfacing, and that I am supporting it from Sri Lanka.

I told them “Come here little brother, I am 53 years old now, and I will turn 54 on the 24^th of December. I don’t even have the strength to do walk and do my own work, so how can I help restart the LTTE in this situation? You are the one saying that you destroyed them…”

He asked me if I had helped them. I replied, “No, sir, I didn’t do that. Nothing like that.”

Then he asked, “Are you searching for the LTTE war heroes and LTTE members among the missing people?” I responded, “They are heroes.  We perform pujas and light lamps to remember them.”

“We are searching for the children and people who were handed over by their families or taken during the final war. We are not searching for our war heroes. They are dead.”

He then asked, “What is your ideal?” I responded, “to tell the truth to our people and seek justice.” He asked, “is this for all three ethnicities?”. I replied, “Yes, all three ethnicities want justice. No one should be made to disappear.” I emphasised that “everyone is human.”

Their question was whether we would support punishments if the missing persons were found. I said “Yes, they should be punished.”

You are still holding LTTE members as political prisoners, saying they have made a mistake. You’ve kept them locked up for years. Only if the wrongdoers are punished will they truly repent. Otherwise, those who made five people disappear will think, “What is the government going to do to us?”. And they could make fifty people disappear in a single day. They need to be punished sir. They must understand the consequences of their actions.

We did not ask for them to be killed. They need to understand what punishment is and the value of life. Right now, it’s just scaremongering.

The government and the president are all the same. No matter how many times the government changes, we will not get a good solution. They talk about finding justice for those who disappeared before coming to power, but after they gain power, they show their true colours. They waste time claiming that they are investigating. We don’t trust anyone. He has been doing a lot of work in this government.

We strongly condemn their investigation of us.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Canada “do everything we can to protect” Tamil Canadians, as he testified in a public inquiry on foreign interference in the affairs of diaspora communities.

Trudeau made the remarks as he responded to a question regarding the Sri Lankan government’s ongoing interference in the lives of Tamil Canadians by Katpana Nagendra of Tamil Rights Group (TRG).

“As long as [Sri Lanka] continues to operate with impunity, feeling shielded from repercussions for their war crimes and human rights violations, they will persist in using intimidation tactics against Tamil activists in Canada,” said Nagendra.

Trudeau said that he needed more context on the specific issue but responded, “I certainly agree that the like many diaspora communities, Tamil Canadians, are exposed to actions by the government of Sri Lanka that we need to do everything we can to protect them from.”

The concerns come after it was recently revealed that Sri Lanka’s Consul General in Toronto, Thushara Rodrigo, has formally written to the Mayor of Brampton, Patrick Brown, in an attempt to halt the construction of a memorial dedicated to the victims of the Tamil genocide. The letter, sent in May 2024 and exclusively released by the Tamil Guardian, claims that the monument would “severely disrupt communal harmony” in Canada and conveys what the Consul General described as a “deeply distorted and false message of violence.”

^{A Sri Lankan protestor attempts to obstruct a Tamil genocide memorial event in Canada in August.}

The move by the Sri Lankan government has sparked further outrage, as it continues to deny responsibility for the atrocities committed against Tamils during Mullivaikkal genocide in 2009. Despite overwhelming evidence—including the mass killings of tens of thousands of Tamil civilians, the targeting of hospitals, widespread sexual violence, and the execution of surrendering Tamils on camera—Sri Lanka refuses to acknowledge or account for the atrocities.

US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung met with accused war criminal Sampath Thuyacontha this week, as Washington continued to ramp up military ties with Colombo despite the longstanding record of human rights abuses.

Chung tweeted photographs of her meeting with the new Secretary of Defence – a military figure who boasted of causing “chaos” during the Mullivaikkal genocide. Thuyacontha was the Wing Commander of the No 09 squadron, a helicopter gunship squadron that conducted nearly 400 missions during the genocide.

The genocide, which concluded in May 2009, saw tens of thousands of Tamil civilians massacred by the Sri Lankan military who indiscriminately bombed hospitals and government declared ‘No Fire Zones’.

Read more: Another accused Sri Lankan war criminal appointed as Defence Secretary

“I had a productive meeting today,” said Chung. “We discussed the strong U.S. commitment to regional security, defense cooperation, and good governance. Together, we’re reinforcing the U.S.-Sri Lanka partnership to promote peace, stability, and shared security interests.”

The meeting came as the US officially handed over a Beechcraft King Air 360ER aircraft to the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF), as part of increasing military cooperation between the two countries.

Also this week, Chung attended the graduation ceremony of Sri Lankan police officers who completed a US-funded training program.

“The fight against crime in Sri Lanka requires a united front,” she said. “You may have heard of the television show in America called “CSI, Crime Scene Investigation” the very training you all received. We see actors on screen convey the tireless dedication of police officers to investigate crime and seek justice.

“But this isn’t limited to Hollywood alone. You all are doing this every day on the streets of Colombo and all around Sri Lanka, to your families and your communities. You are the everyday heroes.”

“I hope you can sense that through programs like this, the United States is committed to helping strengthen the institution of the police. We are committed to helping you help victims. We are committed to helping you pursue justice.”

“Subha gamanak veva,” Chung concluded, the Sinhalese for “Have a nice journey”.

Tensions escalated in the Eastern Province last week when Sri Lankan police attempted to prevent the burial of a Muslim woman in Ponmalaikuda, based on false claims made by an extremist Sinhala Buddhist monk.

The issue arose when residents of Ponmalaikuda and Pulmoddai villages were preparing for the burial. Police officers at the occupying station in Kuchchaveli intervened, claiming that the land was under the jurisdiction of Sri Lanka’s Department of Archaeology and instructing the villagers to halt the funeral. This burial ground, located within the Kuchchaveli Divisional Secretariat in Trincomalee District, had long been used by local Muslims for such purposes.

The local Muslim community resisted these efforts and eventually managed to continue the burial.

The police's actions followed a complaint lodged by Panamure Thilakawansa, the chief monk of the Arisimale Temple and a member of the Presidential Task Force on Archaeological Management in the Eastern Province. Thilakawansa Thera asserted that the land belonged to the Department of Archaeology, but his claim was refuted by the villagers, who maintained that the area had always been a Muslim burial ground.

The Kuchchaveli Divisional Secretary was informed of the situation and clarified that the disputed land was indeed reserved for Muslim burials, not for archaeological purposes. After this confirmation, the police withdrew, and the burial proceeded as planned. This incident highlights the ongoing land disputes in the Eastern Province, where Sinhala Buddhist monks have been accused of encroaching on lands traditionally owned by Tamils and Muslims. This particular monk is reportedly involved in multiple court cases regarding such land disputes.

A similar issue occurred in the Nagathalvu village in the Mannar District, where Tamils were barred from performing funeral rites due to claims that their cemetery fell under the jurisdiction of Sri Lanka’s Department of Wildlife. Despite promises of a public cemetery for future use, the matter remains unresolved.

These incidents underscore the ongoing tensions over land ownership in the North-East, where the Sri Lankan state for decades has been engaged in a process of colonisation and Sinhalisation.

Tamil National People's Front (TNPF) leader Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam refuted statements made by Tilvin Silva, the General Secretary of the ruling Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), who claimed that devolution of powers to Tamils in the North-East “is not necessary”, and instead said the government must adhere to Tamil demands.

At a media briefing held in Mullaitivu, along with party secretary Selvarajah Kajendran, Ponnambalam emphasized the need to focus on long-standing Tamil political aspirations.

Ponnambalam reinforced the TNPF's central position that Sri Lanka is composed of two distinct nations: the Sinhalese and the Tamils. While the Sinhalese have long enjoyed recognition and dominance, he argued that the Tamil nation has been systematically marginalized. "Since 1948, the Sinhalese have used their majority to occupy Tamil territories and push forward a policy of Sinhalaization," Ponnambalam said. This process, he claimed, has been a deliberate effort to diminish the Tamil identity and autonomy within their historical homeland in the North and East.

The TNPF leader countered Silva’s remarks, insisting that the Tamil demand for political autonomy remains strong and unresolved. He further highlighted that despite the National People's Power (NPP) promise to address ethnic issues, these commitments have not been fulfilled.

Ponnambalam also questioned NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s commitment to addressing corruption in the North and East, despite his efforts to tackle the issue in the South. He raised concerns about whether Dissanayake would secure an absolute majority in the upcoming election and speculated that he would eventually need to negotiate with Tamil parties in the North-East.

Last month, Ponnambalam called on newly elected Sri Lankan president Anura Kumara Dissanayake to embrace devolving power to the Tamil nation and said the TNPF would work with him if he abandons his previous pledges to maintain the unitary state structure and his opposition of devolving power to the North-East.

"Our goal is to secure at least 10 out of the 18 parliamentary seats allocated to Tamil MPs from the North-East," Ponnambalam said. He stressed that this electoral success would be critical to preventing the implementation of a unitary political system that would further undermine Tamil autonomy.

Bimal Rathnayake, a longstanding member of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and national executive member of National People's Power (NPP), claimed remarks made by his colleague and party secretary Tilvin Silva which side-lined Tamil demands for devolution did not occur, as he addressed party supporters in Vavuniya this week.

Silva told a Sinhala TV program that Tamils “do not want devolution of power,” earlier this week.

“We know for certain because we have been to the North that the common man on the street does not want the 13th Amendment,” he claimed referring to a constitutional amendment which calls for a merged North-East and the devolution of police and land powers to the province. For decades, New Delhi has called for it to be implemented, and continues to do so, even though the JVP has been staunchly opposed. Tamils have criticised it for not going far enough in its devolution of powers.

See a video of Silva delivering his remarks here.

However, Rathnayake told a crowd in Vavuniya that "I don't think Tilvin Silva would have said such a thing about Tamils and on devolution".

“The NPP is committed to resolving the ethnic and cultural issues that communities face in the country,” he claimed. “We understand the issues faced by Tamils in the estate and the North-East. We know that they have political aspirations. But I don't think Tilvin Silva said anything about devolution of power." 

"We understand that there is no unity among different communities,” he continued. “There was a time when they said Muslims could not grow a beard. This hearsay about devolution is something like that.

"The 13th Amendment was brought by India to Sri Lanka however it made no change in the country. Tamils and Muslims think that endorsing the agreement is sufficient. But we will bring a new political system."

He then went on to claim that Sri Lanka’s new president Anura Kumara Dissanayake is “committed to releasing all political prisoners,” but did not divulge any further details. 

Excavation work at the Mannar mass grave resumed this week, with researchers extracting materials and working around the burial site, despite the prohibition of any photography or video recordings of the ongoing excavations.

Lawyers representing the families of the victims have also refrained from speaking to the media or providing any sound bites about the progress of the work. The reason behind this media blackout has not been disclosed.

The Mannar mass grav ehas faced significant delays in court proceedings after reports submitted by the Judicial Medical Officer Dr. Saminda Rajapaksha were found to be incomplete. Lawyers representing the victims’ families criticized the reports for missing crucial details, such as the cause of death and the ages of the deceased. They further demanded that reports from other expert witnesses, including Professor Raj Somadeva, be presented during the next hearing.

Discovered in May 2019 during construction work near the local supermarket Sathosa, located by the A14 highway, the grave contained 318 bodies, including those of 18 children. The excavation was carried out under the supervision of the Office of Missing Persons, serving as an independent observer throughout the process.

In a report by the International Truth and Justice Project (ITJP) concerning mass graves and failed exhumations, it was revealed that metal bindings, likely used to tie victims’ legs together, were among the objects recovered from the site.

Skeletal remains were sent to Beta Analytics Inc. in Florida, USA, for carbon dating analysis, which estimated the grave to be from between 1477 and 1719. This conclusion sharply contrasted with the opinions of investigators involved in the excavation, who believe the grave could not be more than 30 years old.

The case remains sensitive, and the lack of transparency surrounding the investigation raises concerns about the continued pursuit of justice for the victims buried at the Mannar mass grave.

Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister, Vijitha Herath, reaffirmed his government's rejection of a United Nations resolution on gathering evidence of war crimes and instead pledged to continue with “domestic” mechanisms that have been rejected by victims for over 15 years.

Speaking at a meeting with the Colombo-based diplomats, Herath reiterated how his government had opposed the resolution at the UN Human Rights Council whilst thanking “the countries that took helpful and principled positions in support of Sri Lanka in Geneva and a number of countries also spoke in support of the progress made by Sri Lanka at the interactive session”.

He went on to claim his government would enact “domestic mechanisms and processes on reconciliation”.

Tamil victims and survivors of Sri Lanka’s 2009 genocide have repeatedly and firmly rejected domestic mechanisms and instead called for an independent, international accountability mechanism.

Successive Sri Lankan governments have refused to investigate and prosecute those accused of war crimes. Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Sri Lanka’s latest president, has also pledged not to prosecute those accused of war crimes.