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Hundreds of Tamil Canadians gathered at Sankofa Square (formerly Dundas Square) in downtown Toronto on 6 July 2025 to demand international accountability and justice for the victims of the Chemmani mass graves, as well as for mass killings committed across the North-East of Sri Lanka.
The demonstration, organised by Tamil Canadian community members and student groups, followed the recent excavation of the Chemmani mass grave in Jaffna, where more than 50 human remains, including those of at least three infants, have been unearthed.
Protesters held placards and banners bearing powerful messages and visuals, calling for international justice and immediate action. One sign read, “In Chemmani, Tamil school children were raped and buried by the Sri Lankan State,” highlighting the harrowing nature of the crimes and the ongoing culture of impunity.
Organisers and participants stressed that Chemmani is not an isolated case. Mass graves in Mannar, Kalavanchikudy and other locations across the Tamil homeland have yet to be thoroughly investigated or independently examined, with many sites still under the control of Sri Lankan state authorities.
Protesters called on the United Nations, the Canadian government, and the broader international community to initiate meaningful, independent action, including international forensic investigations and credible legal accountability mechanisms, in response to the discoveries at Chemmani and beyond.
The Toronto protest is part of a growing wave of international mobilisation among the Tamil diaspora, who continue to push for global recognition of the Tamil genocide and accountability through international legal mechanisms, including the International Criminal Court.
The issue of the Chemmani mass graves has been repeatedly raised by British lawmakers, including the UK Foreign Secretary, and a member of the US Congress.
