British MP Uma Kumaran has called on the United Kingdom Government to support a full investigation into the mass grave discovered in Chemmani, Jaffna, which included the remains of at least three infants.
Taking to’X’, Uma Kumaran said that the recent discovery of a mass grave in Chemmani, including the bodies of three babies, is a devastating reminder of the state-sponsored atrocities inflicted on Tamils in Sri Lanka.
“I’ve written to Foreign Secretary David Lammy urging the UK Government to support, alongside international partners, a full investigation into this appalling atrocity,” she added.
In a letter dated 17 June, Uma Kumaran referred to a 2024 report by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), which voiced concerns that there are insufficient resources in Sri Lanka’ to conduct exhumations in line with the international standards, and encouraged the Sri Lankan Government to seek international support for this work.
“In light of the UK Government’s support for truth, reconciliation, accountability and justice, I would appreciate it if you could set out any current and planned support from the UK Government to Sri Lanka to tackle this issue,” she wrote.
Uma Kumaran also requested that the UK Foreign Office prioritise the mass grave issue in “any and all bilateral engagement” that they have with the Government of Sri Lanka.
“I hope that you will consider my call for perpetrators of war crimes to be referred to the International Criminal Court, as called for by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights,” she added.
Excavation at Sittupatthu in Chemmani, Jaffna began on 15 May following a court directive, after workers from the Nallur Pradeshiya Sabha discovered fragments of human bones on 20 February while clearing land for a construction project.
Based on a report submitted by the Jaffna Police, Jaffna Magistrate A. Ananda Rajah ordered an official excavation. The work is being carried out by a team of archaeologists led by Professor Raj Somadeva.
As of 08 June, 19 human skeletons were found at the site. The next phase of the excavation is scheduled to begin on 26 June. (Newswire)
