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Fresh call to uncover Lanka mass grave secrets

Published

3 years ago

2023/06/25

Gota stalled police probe into mass graves: Report

ECONOMYNEXT –Five civil society groups are calling for government action to investigate mass graves which they say contain the remains of so-called “disappeared” in various civil conflicts on the island.

In a press release issued on June 22, the groups insisted that “if the Sri Lankan government is serious about dealing with the past it must commit to have international observers at all exhumations of mass graves.”

The festering issue of the disappeared has not been addressed in any systematic way by successive governments despite frequent promises.The Office of Missing Persons (OMP) created by the Yahapalanaya government has proved to be a disappointment.

Brito Fernando of the Families of the Disappeared says that after three decades and twenty attempted exhumations, only a handful of bodies have ever been identified and returned to families.

“We all know tens of thousands of bodies lie in shallow graves all over the island, so we can’t describe this dismal rate of progress as bad luck – it’s a clear lack of political will,” he added.

The five organizations released a detailed report on the past investigations into mass graves. It meticulously reveals the government’s “systematic interference with investigations” a statement issued by the five organizations said.

A 30-minute documentary film, “In Plain Sight – Searching for Truth Behind Sri Lanka’s Mass Graves”, was also screened at the event, illustrating how long and hard the families of the disappeared have struggled for the truth. The documentary explores the connection between disappearances and mass graves in Sri Lanka by focusing on different narratives, including those of affected families and loved ones, the press release said.

Investigations into a mass grave found near the Matale hospital prompted the joint report. The remains exhumed at that location in 2013 are believed to be of the hundreds of people who went missing during the late 1980s.

“Matale was the scene of hundreds of disappearances in 1989 when the former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was the district military coordinator of the area; he was later named as an alleged suspect by a Presidential Commission of Inquiry” the press release said.

It added that a group of UN experts “wrote to the Government of Sri Lanka this year to ask what it had done to investigate and hold Gotabaya Rajapaksa and other alleged perpetrators accountable but there was no reply.”

Yasmin Sooka, executive director of the International Truth and Justice Project in South Africa was quoted in the release as saying that this “shows that documenting the crimes, collecting the evidence and preserving it is just the first step – thirty years later we still find ourselves fighting for truth and justice; without which the guarantee of non-recurrence remains elusive.”

“Accountability is not an optional exercise – it’s essential for building a future for all Sri Lankans,” she added.

The report examines the way investigations throughout the island have been stymied whether the mass graves are in the south or the north and east.

Magistrates and forensic experts have been transferred abruptly, police have delayed carrying out judicial orders, families’ lawyers have been denied access to sites, no effort has been made to find living witnesses, no ante mortem data has been collected, the Attorney General’s Office has dropped the case, and, in the very rare instances where someone was convicted, they were then pardoned, the report alleged.Though a new inquest law and standard operating procedures have been drafted, they have not been made public, nor have the families been consulted.

“There is total lack of political will with regard to mass graves investigations and enforced disappearance in Sri Lanka,” said K.S. Ratnavale, executive director of the Centre for Human Rights and Development who has represented families in mass grave cases.

“Added to this, the Attorney General’s Department views such mass grave investigations as part of ordinary criminal proceedings and is hostile to victim families.

This was evident in the Mannar mass graves investigations. While in Matale the magistrate who held an impartial inquiry was transferred with immediate effect. Thus, political interference is rampant in order to protect the interests of the Sri Lankan military and their political masters,” he added.

In Mannar, 318 bodies (including 28 children) were exhumed in 2018. Among the objects that were recovered were metal bindings which had been used to tie legs together.In Matale, some of the skeletal remains reportedly had bullet holes, and others were found to have their hands tied behind their back. There too, objects were found that a forensic archaeologist dated to the late 1980s.

Nevertheless, the Department of Archaeology stated that the Mannar site was a normal cemetery and a Commission set up by then President Mahinda Rajapaksa concluded the Matale grave dated from the 1950s.

“We are good at burying in this country but not at unearthing the truth,” says Bashana Abeywardane of Journalists for Democracy in Sri Lanka which co-authored the report.

“We need to collect ante-mortem data from the families of the disappeared and meticulously locate the hundreds, if not thousands, of remaining mass graves with the help of international experts. Only then should excavations start” he added.

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Heat Index at ‘Caution Level’ in the Sabaragamuwa province and, Colombo, Gampaha, Kurunegala, Anuradhapura, Vavuniya, Hambanthota and Monaragala districts

Published

2 hours ago

2026/03/7

Priyan

Warm Weather Advisory Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology at 3.30 p.m. on 06 March 2026, valid for 07 March 2026.

The public are warned that the Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in the Sabaragamuwa province and in Colombo, Gampaha, Kurunegala, Anuradhapura, Vavuniya, Hambantota and Monaragala districts.

The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and 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

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Prompt solutions will be provided for the salary anomalies prevailing within the teacher and principal services — PM

Published

2 hours ago

2026/03/7

Priyan

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that the government has paid close attention to the salary anomalies prevailing within the teacher and principal services and that prompt solutions will be provided following extensive discussions held with trade unions.

The Prime Minister made these remarks while responding to questions raised in Parliament on Friday (06).

Presenting data on existing vacancies in the education sector, the Prime Minister explained the current situation.

There are 903 vacancies existing in the Sri Lanka Education Administrative Service (SLEAS) and 3,790 vacancies in Sri Lanka Principals’ Service (SLPS).

In order to fill the vacancies which still remain due to various reasons, including selected officers not accepting appointments after the examinations and interviews conducted since 2021, interviews are scheduled to be held in the second week of March 2026.

Further, in order to fill the vacancies for the years 2021 and 2025, competitive examinations will be conducted in the future with the approval of the Public Service Commission.

At present, entry into the Principals’ Service is considered as a new recruitment. As a solution to the salary-related issue arising in this regard, a new Cabinet paper is being prepared seeking approval to consider appointments to the Principals’ Service as a promotion, thereby enabling appropriate salary conversion.

The Prime Minister also emphasized that sustainable solutions are required not only for salary issues in the education sector but also for salary-related concerns in several other sectors. Accordingly, the government plans to appoint a new Salary Commission. Through this commission, the government expects to provide lasting solutions to the issues faced by teachers and principals within this year.

In accordance with the service minute of the Principals’ Service, several training programmes have been made mandatory for the professional development of principals.

These include, Induction training at the beginning of service, capacity development training prior to promotion to Grade II and Grade I, and periodic awareness programmes conducted at provincial and zonal levels.

The Prime Minister further stated that discussions are undertaking with the Department of Management Services regarding the proposals submitted by principals’ associations. Based on the responses received, the government is prepared to take the necessary steps through the Cabinet of Ministers.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]

News

UNP concerned about govt.’s silence over US sub sinking Iranian warship in Lanka’s EEZ

Published

2 hours ago

2026/03/7

Thilina Walpola

The UNP yesterday (06) voiced concern over, what it described as, the continued silence of the Sri Lankan government regarding the sinking of an Iranian vessel by a US submarine within Sri Lanka’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

In a statement, the UNP questioned whether the government had been informed, in advance, by the United States of the military action carried out within Sri Lanka’s EEZ, particularly within the framework of the Colombo Security Conclave.

The party warned that such developments had effectively turned Sri Lanka’s EEZ into a war zone, posing potential risks to commercial maritime activity.

Full text of the UNP statement: The United National Party is concerned over the continued silence of the Sri Lankan government regarding the sinking of an Iranian vessel by a US submarine in our Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The government must disclose to the Sri Lankan public whether they were informed by America prior to the military action that was carried out in the country’s EEZ, and within the ambit of the Colombo Security Conclave.

These actions have resulted in our EEZ being turned into a warzone which will have a detrimental impact on our commercial interests. Shipping costs and insurance are expected to increase, impacting the country’s economy, including the cost of living.

The government of Sri Lanka must seek assurance from the United of States of America that further military action will not be conducted in the vicinity of the country. The government must also discuss the potential economic impact with the relevant shipping companies and insurance authorities.