Accountability Can Only Be Achieved Through International Independent Investigation; International Criminal Law Experts
20-Sep-2025.
International criminal law experts have pointed out that accountability for human rights violations in Sri Lanka can only be meaningfully established through an independent international investigation, rather than through domestic procedures.
A discussion titled “Ensuring International Accountability in Sri Lanka” was held at the Geneva media center, organized by the National Canadian Tamil Council.
The discussion, compiled by Ruksha Sivanandan, included participation from international criminal lawyer Alain Werner, international legal expert Maryam Posty, UN investigator on sexual and gender-based violence Julie Dubé Gagnon, and S. Gnaneswaran from the Tamil Civil Society Network (participating virtually).
They emphasized that accountability for violations in Sri Lanka can only be effectively established through independent international investigations, not through domestic mechanisms.
Ruksha Sivanandan highlighted the necessity of immediately implementing an international accountability mechanism to prevent impunity from ongoing domestic punishments. He also stressed that establishing such a mechanism would restore the confidence of affected parties and survivors, hold perpetrators accountable, and ensure justice for the Tamil people.
S. Gnaneswaran, speaking on behalf of the Tamil Civil Society Network, detailed the systematic ethnic violence against Tamils carried out by the Sri Lankan government since 1948, including ethnic war, massacres, state-sponsored surveillance, oppression, violations, arrests, torture, Buddhization, militarization, Sinhalization, enforced disappearances, and land seizures.
He emphasized that such acts continue today and underlined the need for a credible, independent international investigative mechanism, citing the recently discovered Chemmani Sithupathi human burial site as further proof.
International criminal lawyer Alain Werner praised the resilience of the Tamil people and stressed the importance of a continuous struggle for justice.
While acknowledging the UN’s efforts to collect evidence under accountability initiatives related to Sri Lanka, he reiterated that meaningful accountability can only be achieved through independent international investigations.
He further emphasized the Tamil community’s crucial role in properly documenting evidence and preparing comprehensive case files, and stressed the need for continued legal and procedural efforts through national courts and legal systems.
Maryam Posty highlighted that affected Tamils and civil society representatives play a key role in structuring accountability initiatives, particularly in documenting evidence and leading negotiations for justice, often in the face of personal threats.
