Wed Sep 10 15:48:38 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Justice and National Integration has denied reports that the exhumation at the Chemmani mass grave site in Jaffna has been halted due to lack of funds. The Ministry stated that the probe is ongoing and funds are allocated as requested by the Jaffna Magistrate’s Court and the Judicial Medical Officer (JMO). The Chemmani mass grave probe began in May 2025 and has retrieved 239 bodies. Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister reiterated the government’s commitment to providing adequate resources for the related processes.

**News Article:**

**Sri Lanka Denies Funding Halt to Chemmani Mass Grave Exhumation**

**COLOMBO – September 10, 2025** – Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Justice and National Integration has refuted media reports claiming the exhumation process at the Chemmani mass grave site in Jaffna has been suspended due to a lack of funds.

In a statement released today, the Ministry firmly denied the reports, stating that “at no stage has there been a suspension or delay due to lack of funds,” calling such claims “inaccurate” and potentially misleading to the public. The denial follows a report by the Press Trust of India last week, citing lawyers familiar with the probe, alleging that the excavation had been halted pending fresh funding.

The Ministry assured that funding for the excavations is allocated based on requests from the Jaffna Magistrate’s Court and the Judicial Medical Officer (JMO), with the full amount released promptly according to necessity. The budget for phase three, to be presented to the Jaffna High Court, will be forwarded to the Ministry for approval.

The Chemmani mass grave probe began in May 2025, after the discovery of human remains during crematorium expansion preparations. To date, 239 bodies have been retrieved. The site, located in the former war zone, has resurfaced concerns about accountability for human rights violations during and after the island’s civil war.

Addressing the Human Rights Council in Geneva on September 8, Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath said investigations independent of any Government interference are being conducted under judicial oversight into the grave sites, including in Chemmani. “The Government has and will continue to provide adequate resources for the related processes,” he stated, reinforcing the government’s commitment to “advancing accountability through credible domestic processes.”

The exhumation process is ongoing and a team of experts are working to complete the second phase of excavation.

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