Canadian MPs call for international probe into Chemmani mass grave

Canadian lawmakers have gathered in Ottawa to demand an international investigation into mass graves in Sri Lanka.

Members of Parliament, Tamil advocacy organisations, and student activists assembled on Parliament Hill on 20 October for a parliamentary event examining justice for victims of mass atrocities in Chemmani.

Addressing the assembly, Member of Parliament Gary Anandasangaree stated that the ongoing discovery of mass grave sites demands international attention, justice, and accountability.

He accused Sri Lanka of routinely evading the rule of law regarding gross human rights violations and affirmed Canada’s commitment to pursuing accountability through its position in the Sri Lanka Core Group at the United Nations Human Rights Council.

The gathering follows Canada’s formal recognition of the Tamil genocide in 2022 and its subsequent imposition of sanctions against former Sri Lankan presidents Mahinda Rajapaksa and Gotabaya Rajapaksa in 2023.

Delivering the keynote address, SOAS University of London research associate Dr. Mario Arulthas characterized Chemmani as a symbol of unaddressed state violence.

He stressed that mass graves reflect deliberate state intent rather than accidental remnants of conflict.

Arulthas argued that Sri Lankan authorities lack both the technical expertise and political will to conduct credible domestic investigations, urging Ottawa to support independent international oversight.

He warned that prioritizing internal mechanisms over global justice tools signals to authoritarian regimes worldwide that international law will eventually collapse into quiet accommodation.

To enforce compliance, Arulthas encouraged Canada to exercise universal jurisdiction and utilize its national war crimes legislation to investigate accused perpetrators.

Summarizing parliamentary sentiment, Member of Parliament Juanita Nathan asserted that families of the disappeared have waited decades and deserve definitive answers from responsible authorities.

Expressing similar concern online, Member of Parliament Salma Zahid posted that the heartbreaking discovery of human remains underscores the urgent need to preserve evidence and deliver justice to grieving families.