Highways and Transport Minister Bimal Rathnayake has described mass graves across Sri Lanka as evidence of state failures, noting that skeletal remains recovered from the Chemmani site have increased to 565 under the current administration's oversight.
Highways and Transport Minister Bimal Rathnayake characterized mass graves throughout Sri Lanka as tragic symbols of institutional collapse, with the Chemmani excavation site serving as a particularly significant example of governmental breakdown. Speaking at a press conference in Jaffna on Thursday, Rathnayake attributed the graves to failures spanning multiple administrations over time.
According to Rathnayake, the current Government has substantially expanded recovery and investigation efforts at Chemmani. The minister reported that skeletal remains from the site have increased from those recorded since 2009 to a total of 565 as of Thursday. He attributed this expansion to Government intervention, including dedicated funding allocations, deployment of judicial and medical personnel, and provision of necessary investigative facilities.
The excavations are being conducted through what Rathnayake described as a transparent, scientific, and lawful process. The Government has also initiated forensic examinations of the remains in an effort to identify victims. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Justice is reportedly taking measures to identify those responsible for the incidents and pursue corresponding legal action.
The press conference, held at the NPP district office, also included remarks from Fisheries Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar and NPP Jaffna District MP K. Ilankumaran, underscoring the official attention being directed toward the matter.
