News

Australian Senators demand int’l probe into Chemmani mass graves

Published

9 months ago

2025/08/7

David / Fatima

Australian Senators have issued calls for an international investigation into the mass graves in Chemmani, Jaffna, where forensic teams have exhumed more than 130 skeletal remains so far, Tamil Guardian reported on Tuesday (5)

Raising the issue in Parliament last week, Senators David Shoebridge and Fatima Payman expressed solidarity with the Tamil community and urged the Australian government to back an internationally monitored investigation into war crimes committed during and after the armed conflict. Their intervention follows growing pressure from Tamil diaspora groups, who submitted a Joint Appeal on 16 July calling for action in light of the ongoing discoveries.

The Chemmani site, long suspected to conceal the remains of Tamil civilians disappeared during the 1990s, has once again captured global attention. Over the course of 45 days, court-appointed forensic teams uncovered a total of 135 skeletal remains so far. Among the remains were the bodies of children, accompanied by school items.

In Parliament, Senators referred to the Tamil community’s Joint Appeal letter dated 16 July 2025, and urged the Australian Government to take concrete action. The requests included:

– Advocate for an internationally monitored forensic investigation into Chemmani and other mass graves in Sri Lanka;

– Support the extension and proper resourcing of the UN’s Sri Lanka Accountability Project (OSLAP);

– Implement Magnitsky-style targeted sanctions against individuals credibly accused of war crimes and human rights violations;

– As an observer at the UN Human Rights Council, support resolutions referring Sri Lanka to the UN General Assembly and Security Council.

Senator David Shoebridge, representing the Australian Greens, reaffirmed his party’s long-standing commitment to justice for Tamils:

“The Tamil diaspora has done so much to build Australia and contribute to our society. We have a responsibility to stand with them and ensure that the calls for justice are heard and acted upon.”

Shoebridge has also written directly to Foreign Minister Penny Wong, urging the Government to take a principled stance at the international level and act with “moral clarity” on human rights.

“The Greens are committed to working with the Tamil community and civil society to pursue real justice — not just symbolic words,” he added in a statement.

In a heartfelt address to the Senate, Senator Fatima Payman said:

“My heart is with the Tamil community as the Chemmani mass grave excavation brings to light yet more heartbreaking evidence of atrocity. The recovery of children’s skeletons, with schoolbags still beside them, is a devastating reminder that justice delayed is justice denied.”

“I stand in solidarity with all those calling for an independent, international investigation — the world cannot look away.”

However one old wag in Colombo succinctly summed up the irony of the call by Aussie Senators to Sri Lanka by asking why they do not beat their breasts over disappearance of several million aborigines at the hands of white Australians in the course of robbing their lands. By their own colonial accounts there had been about five million aborigines there when the whites arrived, but today their numbers have dwindled to less than 500,000, he pointed out.

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Police officers donate LKR 9,687,462 from day’s salary to ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund

Published

14 hours ago

2026/04/27

Priyan

A sum of LKR. 9,687,462, raised from day’s salary officers of the Police Department, has been donated to the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund, established to support the recovery of communities affected by Cyclone Ditwah and to assist in rebuilding the country following the disaster.

To date, officers of the Police Department have contributed over LKR. 74 million to the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund through three such contributions of one day’s salary.

The donation was presented on Wednesday (22) afternoon at the Presidential Secretariat by the Personal Assistant to the Inspector General of Police, Senior Superintendent of Police C. C. Bamunuarachchi, to the Secretary to the President, Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.

Chief Inspector Udaya Kumara, Officer-in-Charge of the Police Secretariat, was also present on the occasion.

[Presidents Media Division]

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Heat Index at Caution Level in the Northern, North-central, North-western, Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, and Eastern provinces and in Monaragala district during the day time

Published

22 hours ago

2026/04/27

Priyan

Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
Issued at 3.30 p.m. on 26 April 2026, valid for 27 April 2026.

The Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in the Northern, North-central, North-western, Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, and Eastern provinces and in Monaragala district during the day time.

The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.

Effect of the heat index on human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.

ACTION REQUIRED
Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated.
Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.

Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry
of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491.

News

Opposition asks for PSC to probe Treasury theft

Published

23 hours ago

2026/04/27

Sahan Weerasooriya

Sajith

Opposition and SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa has called for the appointment of a Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) to investigate the illegal diversion of Treasury funds, amounting to US$2.5 million to a third-party account.

Premadasa has said both the chairmanship and a majority of the Committee’s membership should be held by the Opposition to ensure impartiality.

The government has not only failed to account for the loss of US$2.5 million but also deliberately withheld information from Parliament, the Committee on Public Finance (COPF) and the public, Premadasa has told the media, accusing the ruling party of seeking to deflect responsibility by initiating an internal departmental inquiry, which he describes as a biased process designed to justify predetermined conclusions.

The Opposition Leader has said only a transparent and independent probe could establish the facts, adding that such an investigation could be effectively carried out through a Parliamentary Select Committee led by the Opposition.

He has also warned that the alleged failure to inform Parliament about the missing funds amounted to a serious breach of accountability.