Sri Lanka Seeks Red Cross Participation in Chemmani Mass Grave Investigations

09-Sep-2025

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The government has officially invited the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to provide technical expertise in excavation and forensic analysis relating to the Chemmani mass grave. Reliable sources indicate that the Red Cross will participate in the process soon.

Excavations at the Chemmani Sittupathi mass grave have continued for the 45th consecutive day. So far, 240 skeletons have been identified, of which 239 have been fully exhumed.

The Office on Missing Persons (OMP) has been providing support, including funding for excavations, monitoring, and documentation. Recently, the OMP also met with death-row inmate Lance Corporal Somaratna Rajapakse—who had made key revelations regarding the Chemmani mass grave—to gather further information.

Despite the ICRC’s long-standing expertise in handling mass graves, the organization had not been involved in the Chemmani process until now due to the absence of an official request. It is now understood that, following a request from the OMP, the Ministry of Justice has extended an official invitation to the ICRC, and the Red Cross is expected to join the process shortly.