Mass graves tragic evidence of failed states – Rathnayake
Mass graves across Sri Lanka are tragic and enduring evidence of the failures of successive states, Highways and Transport Minister Bimal Rathnayake said, describing the Chemmani site as a historic symbol of a failed state. He said the Government had ensured that excavations at the Chemmani mass grave were conducted through a transparent, scientific and […]
Highways and Transport Minister Bimal Rathnayake lamented that the mass graves found in Sri Lanka serve as a somber reminder of the shortcomings of numerous governments. He considered Chemmani site as a poignant emblem of a dysfunctional state. The minister assured that the government had overseen the discovery and excavation at the Chemmani mass grave in a transparent, scientific, and lawful manner. The government had backed the process with ample funding and judicial and medical resources.
Rathnayake noted that the number of remains recovered from the Chemmani mass grave had surged from 2009 onwards to 565. He credited this rise to the government's intervention, which included the allocation of funds, deployment of judicial and medical officers, and provision of necessary facilities for the investigations. Addressing a press conference in Jaffna, Rathnayake also mentioned that the government had initiated forensic examinations to identify the victims.
The Ministry of Justice, Rathnayake added, was actively working to identify those responsible for the incidents and to take legal action against them. As of Thursday, a total of 565 human skeletons had been excavated from the Chemmani site. Fisheries Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar and NPP Jaffna District MP K. Ilankumaran also spoke to the media.
Written by urgent.news from The Island Sri Lanka's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
