United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk assured Tamil parliamentarians that the plight the Tamil people will not be sidelined at the upcoming UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) session in Geneva, despite the prominence of ongoing global conflicts.
The assurance was reportedly given during a closed-door meeting held at a private hotel in Jaffna on Wednesday night, where Türk met with several Tamil political representatives. Among those present were Members of Parliament Sivagnanam Sritharan, Shanakiyan Rasamanickam, Selvam Adaikkalanathan, Sri Bhavanandaraja, and former MP Dharmalingam Siddharthan.
Speaking to the media following the meeting, Rasamanickam said:
“The [High Commissioner] told me that he came here directly to ensure that the Sri Lankan Tamil issue is not diluted at the upcoming [UN Human Rights Council session] due to the ongoing problems in the Middle East and other international countries.”
He added that he had raised concerns regarding whether the Sri Lanka issue would remain a priority amid pressing global conflicts, including tensions between Iran and Israel, the Russia-Ukraine war, and the Israel-Palestine crisis. According to Rasamanickam, Türk reaffirmed that Sri Lanka would remain on the agenda and that the Council remained committed to pursuing justice and accountability.
The discussion covered a range of critical issues, including mass graves, the release of political prisoners, military-occupied land, and enforced disappearances - key demands that Tamil politicians and civil society groups have consistently raised in UN forums over the years.
Former MP Dharmalingam Siddharthan, whose People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE) party is part of the Democratic Tamil National Alliance (DTNA), said he urged the High Commissioner to ensure the continued implementation of UNHRC resolutions on Sri Lanka.
“He said he understood when we talked about the issue of the missing persons and those languishing in prisons. He did not know how far the Sri Lankan issue would be taken up, especially since many issues are being raised. However, the Commissioner said that he would make every effort. We thanked him for visiting Jaffna and directly inspecting the conditions including the Chemmani mass grave.”
MP Shritharan also reiterated concerns over the lack of progress on accountability, specifically referencing the Chemmani mass grave, as well as militarised land grabs at Kurundur Hill, Vedukkunari Hill, and in Valikamam North.
“Accountability in Sri Lanka is not presented in an honest and dignified manner,” he said. “We have clearly stated the need to emphasise accountability with reparative justice.”
MP Sri Bhavanandaraja, a member of the ruling regime’s National People's Power (NPP) was also present, and said he highlighted the lack of development and justice for Tamils in the North-East since the end of the armed conflict.
“I highlighted the issue of the Tamil people who have not seen any progress in the thirty-year war and the 16 years since then and indicated that our government is very committed to dealing with this issue and providing a solution to the people.”
During his visit to Jaffna, Türk also visited the Chemmani mass grave site, where the remains of 19 individuals including infants were recently unearthed. He paid tribute by laying flowers at the ongoing “Unextinguished Flame” vigil held by families of the disappeared and met with grieving relatives.
Speaking at the site, Türk stressed the emotional toll of such visits and reiterated the urgent need for international forensic expertise to investigate the mass graves.
“When you are at a mass grave site, the one thing that needs to be done is thorough investigations, robust investigations, by independent experts with forensic expertise,” he said, “who can bring out the truth and bring closure to the pain and suffering of family members whose loved ones were disappeared.”
His visit to the North-East formed part of a wider tour of the island, where he earlier warned the Sri Lankan government against falling into an “impunity trap” and underscored that accountability is essential for sustainable peace.
