ITAK Accuses Justice Minister of Double Standards Over Chemmani Mass Grave Investigation

The Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) has levelled sharp criticism at Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara, accusing him of applying double standards when addressing mass atrocities committed during Sri Lanka's decades-long civil conflict.

MP Shritharan Raises Concerns in Parliament

ITAK Parliamentarian S. Shritharan voiced his party's discontent after the Justice Minister made references to the Sooriyande massacre while notably failing to give equal weight to the Chemmani mass grave site — a location long associated with allegations of extrajudicial killings targeting Tamil civilians.

The MP's criticism centres on what he characterises as a selective approach by the Minister when discussing atrocities from the war period, with Tamil communities feeling that their losses continue to receive inadequate recognition at the highest levels of government.

Chemmani Mass Grave — A Painful Chapter

The Chemmani site in the Jaffna peninsula has been a deeply sensitive issue for Tamil families for many years. The location is believed to hold the remains of individuals who went missing during the height of the armed conflict, and calls for a thorough and transparent investigation have persisted for decades without satisfactory resolution.

Tamil political representatives have consistently demanded accountability and proper forensic investigation at Chemmani, arguing that the state has historically been reluctant to pursue justice in cases where security forces may have been implicated.

Calls for Consistent Accountability

ITAK's position reflects broader frustrations among Tamil political parties that transitional justice mechanisms in Sri Lanka continue to be applied unevenly, with massacres affecting Sinhalese communities receiving greater political acknowledgement than those affecting Tamil civilians.

The party is urging the government to adopt a consistent and impartial approach to all mass grave sites and atrocity investigations, regardless of the ethnicity of the victims involved.

Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara has not yet issued a formal response to ITAK's accusations of double standards.