Speaking in Parliament recently, Ilankai Thamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam called for the establishment of an international investigation mechanism into human rights violations in Sri Lanka, warning that domestic structures were neither impartial nor capable of delivering justice.
“There is enough room within the legal framework of Sri Lanka to have international participation,” Shanakiyan said during his address.
Citing legal precedent, the Batticaloa MP referenced the Office on Missing Persons (OMP) Act, stating that its provisions do not prohibit international involvement. The lawmaker also pointed to a bill previously introduced by former justice minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe which proposed involving foreign observers in judicial disciplinary processes. The Supreme Court, Shanakiyan noted, had ruled that such involvement was not unconstitutional.
He criticised the Attorney General’s Department, describing it as both “overworked” and “highly politicised”, and questioned its capacity to conduct independent investigations.
“How can the state investigate the state, when the state is the one that has committed the crimes?” he asked.
Referring to the Chemmani mass graves, which he said had been ignored by the government, Shanakiyan reiterated the urgent need for accountability, not only for historical crimes, but for ongoing impunity. He tabled a statement by British MP Uma Kumaran, who raised concerns in the UK Parliament about the lack of justice in Sri Lanka and asked the Foreign Secretary what steps the UK was taking to support accountability and a referral to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
“To have reconciliation in this country – to have meaningful reconciliation in this country -accountability is the key,” Shanakiyan emphasised. He listed a number of unresolved cases, including the Easter Sunday attacks, Chemmani and Matale mass graves, as well as several murders, which have become emblematic of Sri Lanka’s culture of impunity.
“This is a good opportunity,” he said. “What we are suggesting is that since the government—the president—has also said that it is difficult for the government to investigate the government… we must start a special prosecutor’s office with international involvement, so that people will come forward to give evidence. There will be trust in it.”
“Unless there’s an international investigation on this matter, we will never find justice. Justice will always not be served if we don’t have an international mechanism.”
Concluding his statement, Shanakiyan called on the Sri Lankan government to “immediately take action to start an international investigation not only on the Easter Sunday attack but on all atrocities committed against the people of Sri Lanka in this country.”