Addressing the 54th UN Human Rights Council session, the European Union (EU) emphasised the need for uphold human rights, deliver on accountability, and suspend Sri Lanka’s draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act.

Whilst acknowledging the positive rhetoric from the Sri Lankan president on reconciliation and resolving land disputes, the delegation noted that they were still awaiting concrete actions.

During the 54th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, Deputy High Commissioner, Nada Al-Nashif, raised concerns over increasing military land grabs in the Tamil homeland; the failure to hold Provincial Council elections; crackdowns on memorial events; and the use of state forces to intimidate protesters and journalists.

Economic concern

Noting the financial crisis in Sri Lanka, Al-Nashif detailed how it was hitting the poorest and most marginalised communities the hardest.

Villagers from the Ponnaveli Grama Sevakar division in the Kilinochchi District entered the 41st day of their protest, firmly opposing land grabbing for the construction of a cement factory.

The protestors have been resolute in their stance against private companies that operate in the area, which have constructed approximately 40 tube wells. This excessive groundwater extraction has led to the near depletion of the water table, leaving the villagers grappling with acute water shortages.

The Kokkuthoduvai mass grave excavation reached its sixth day on September 12th. The excavation team have identified the skeletal remains of seven victims, with five sets of remains having been exhumed thus far.

The fifth day of excavation at the Kokkuthoduvai mass grave, conducted on September 11th, marked another significant step in the ongoing investigation. the excavation team, led by the Mullaitivu Judicial Medical Officer (JMO), yielded the recovery of skeletal remains belonging to three more victims on this day.

On September 11th, the fifth day of excavation at the Kokkuthoduvai mass grave site, Tamil National People's Front MPs Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam, Selvaraja Gajendran, and Attorney-at-Law Kandeepan visited the site. Following their visit, MP Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam addressed the media in a press conference, expressing deep concerns regarding the ongoing investigation and the restrictions placed on journalists.

Image courtesy of ibctamil.com

On September 9th, at the monument dedicated to the Sathurukondan massacre in Batticaloa, activists, political leaders, and the general public gathered to mark the 33rd anniversary of the tragic event. The somber remembrance included offerings of flowers and the lighting of oil lamps in memory of the lives lost in the massacre.

UK Ambassador Rita French sharply criticised Sri Lanka’s failure to deliver on promises of accountability and reconciliation whilst also noting ongoing intimidation and harassment of civil society actors and journalists.

Her statement was a joint statement by the Sri Lanka Core Group comprising of Canada, N Macedonia, Malawi, Montenegro, the United Kingdom and the United States. 

On September 11th, as the excavation and exhumation entered its fifth day, the Kokkuthoduvai mass grave site witnessed new restrictions imposed on journalists, sparking concerns about transparency and potential cover-ups surrounding the ongoing investigation.

The third day of excavation at the Kokkuthoduvai mass grave, conducted on September 8th, took a distressing turn when police officers at the site were observed harassing media personnel, Balanathan Sathees and Vijayaratnam Saravanan, in an apparent attempt to intimidate them.