Sri Lanka’s minority Tamil observe shutdown over mass grave investigation

A shutdown was marked in Sri Lanka’s Tamil-dominated northern and eastern regions on Friday with the minority community demanding an immediate investigation into an alleged mass grave in the northeastern district of Mullaithivu.
The protest was called by the relatives of the disappeared people in the northern and eastern regions of Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mannar and Mullaithivu by shutting down businesses and staying indoors. According to Sri Lankan government figures, over 20,000 people are missing due to various conflicts, including the three-decade brutal war with Lankan Tamils in the north and east, which claimed at least 100,000 lives.
The joint student organisation of the Jaffna University in a statement expressed solidarity with the shutdown.
However, the protests were unsuccessful in Vavuniya, Amapara and Trincomalee districts.
In June, an alleged mass grave was accidentally discovered at Kokkuthuduvai by the National Water Board workers while carrying out digging activities for a development project in the area.
On July 6, the Mullaitivu magistrate court supervised the digging of the alleged mass grave.
Tamil political party sources said human remains of at least 13 people were found there.