Sri Lanka’s justice minister, opposition clash over foreign help with Chemmani mass grave

ECONOMYNEXT – International assistance for forensic analysis of the remains unearthed at the Chemmani mass grave will be sought when the need arises, Sri Lanka’s Minister of has Justice said after opposition legislators urged the government to seek help. “We have spoken to embassies, we have made all the local finances necessary for excavation. But when it comes to DNA analysis, depending on the type and nature we will definitely have to go for internationally recognised places,” Harshana Nanayakkara said in response to a query in Parliament. Nanayakkara said that request for international expertise is dependant on the direction the courts give on what needs to be done, after which they will decide which agency best suits the proceedings. The minister also recognised that local expertise is lacking in the forensic department, and the need to train local staff with the help of international experts. Opposition MPs argued that the present need is direct help in forensics from international entities, rather than the longer term need to train the staff on analysis. Currently, the investigation is in the excavation and exhumation stage, conducted by archaeologist Raj Somadeva and his team. The existence of the Chemmani mass grave was first brought to light in 1998, during the trial of the rape and murder of schoolgirl Krishanti Kumaraswamy. In February 2025, construction workers found remains near the Sinthupathy Cemetery, and following investigations ordered by the Learned Magistrate, the mass grave was discovered. 412 bodies have been discovered, with 409 bodies recovered as of 23 June 2026. According to the Office on Missing Persons, this is the 17th recorded mass grave in Sri Lanka. (Colombo/June25/2026)