International Judicial Mechanism Needed; Tamil National Council Declaration at Kittu Park
14-Sep-2026.
A declaration has been issued at Kittu Park calling for the establishment, without delay, of an international judicial mechanism to investigate alleged Tamil genocide, following the discovery of around 600 human skeletons at the Chemmani-Siththupaththi site, which have been described as evidence of genocide.
At the invitation of the Tamil National Council, Eelam Tamil civil society organisations and members of the public gathered in front of the Kailasapathy Temple at 10 a.m. on 13 September 2026, calling for an international judicial mechanism to investigate alleged genocide against Tamils, including at Chemmani.
Following the gathering, thousands of people marched through Temple Road towards Kittu Park. Young people wearing black and carrying skull symbols led the procession, while participants carried placards bearing slogans including “International investigation into the Chemmani massacre”, “Military on people's lands, people on the streets”, “Buddhism occupying Tamil heritage”, “Justice for Tamil genocide”, “Where are our relatives who were handed over?”, “Where are our disappeared relatives?”, “Anura Government, are your promises lies?” and “We want our sea”.
Tamil National Council leader Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam and other leaders, including Selvarasa Gajendran, Kanarathinam Sukash and Nadarajah Kanthipan, religious leaders, relatives of disappeared persons, people who have lost their lands in areas including Thaiyiddy, Palaly, Mayiliddy and Keppapilavu, representatives of civil society organisations, youth and members of the public participated.
The procession subsequently reached Kittu Park in Nallur, where a declaration meeting was held under the theme “The Voice of the Tamil People for Justice”. The organisers called for the complete rejection of domestic mechanisms and urged the United Nations to take responsibility for an international investigation.
A minute of silence was observed in memory of those who lost their lives in the war. The declaration calling for an international judicial investigation was then read by Suresh, National Organiser of the Tamil National People's Front.
Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam, Ainkaranesan, Kanakaranchini, head of the Northern and Eastern organisation representing families of the forcibly disappeared, Kandasamy Bhaskaran, chairman of the IPC organisation and businessman, and three representatives speaking on behalf of people who had lost lands in Valikamam North and Keppapilavu also addressed the gathering. Thavapalasignam delivered the vote of thanks.
The key demands contained in the declaration are as follows:
An international judicial mechanism for mass graves including Chemmani: Around 600 human skeletons have been discovered at the Chemmani-Siththupaththi site and have been described as evidence of genocide against Tamils. The declaration states that the fact that such evidence is under the control of the Sri Lankan Government, which is alleged to be a party responsible for the crimes, creates a risk that evidence could be damaged and the crimes rendered difficult to prove. It therefore calls for the excavation and analysis of the Chemmani-Siththupaththi, Kokkilai-Thoduvai, Mannar and other mass graves to be conducted without intervention by the Sri Lankan Government, with international forensic experts and other specialists appointed for the process. It also calls for the preservation of all evidence recovered during the excavations and for the entire process to be placed under the full responsibility of the United Nations.
International criminal investigation: The declaration completely rejects a domestic investigation mechanism into alleged genocide against the Tamil people and calls for an independent and impartial international criminal investigation to commence immediately.
Justice for forcibly disappeared persons: The organisers reject domestic mechanisms for seeking justice for forcibly disappeared persons and call for an international investigative mechanism to be established immediately.
Immediate release of political prisoners: All political prisoners who have been held for long periods under the Prevention of Terrorism Act should be released immediately, and the existing Prevention of Terrorism Act should be repealed without delay. The declaration also calls for no replacement legislation to be introduced under the pretext of complying with international standards.
Demilitarisation: The militarisation of the Northern and Eastern Tamil homeland, which affects the normal lives of civilians, should be removed.
Protection of Tamil heritage: The ancient history, art, culture and heritage of Tamils in the Northern and Eastern Tamil homeland, from Ampara to Mannar, should be protected. The declaration calls for the immediate removal and cessation of alleged structural ethnic displacement and occupation carried out through State institutions, including the Archaeological Department, Mahaweli Development Authority, Department of Buddhist Affairs, Forest Department and Department of Wildlife Conservation.
Political solution: To ensure that alleged genocide against Tamils does not recur, permanently halt continuing structural ethnic displacement and establish lasting ethnic reconciliation, the international community should ensure the complete removal of Sri Lanka's unitary constitutional system and a political settlement recognising the Tamil nation, sovereignty and the right to self-determination, the declaration states.
