Catholic Bishops demand independent inquiry into Chemmani mass graves

The Catholic Bishops' Conference of Sri Lanka (CBCSL) has called for an impartial and transparent investigation into alleged mass graves in the Chemmani area of the Jaffna Peninsula. The Church emphasized that establishing the truth is a moral imperative and a matter of justice, urging authorities to complete the excavation process.

The bishops stressed that the investigation must be conducted through credible forensic and judicial processes, free from political interference. They noted that the issue should not be treated as a partisan ethnic or political matter, but as an evidence-based inquiry to identify the victims and determine responsibility for any criminal wrongdoing.

For many families in northern Sri Lanka, the site is deeply significant due to long-standing allegations of extrajudicial killings and unlawful body disposals during the country’s civil conflict. The CBCSL highlighted that accountability through due legal process is essential for reconciliation and public trust.