The International Crimes Evidence Project (ICEP) on Sri Lanka, carried out by the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC), concluded the Sri Lankan government was responsible for vast " crimes against humanity of persecution ". Highlighting the need for a truly independent and credible investigation, the report added that such crimes " constitute genocidal acts if the additional requisite elements for this crime are found to be present through further investigation". “ An independent and comprehensive international investigation is needed into these alleged violations of international law . The absence of such investigation will also ensure the ongoing impunity of those on both sides of the conduct who have committed violations, thereby emboldening those who may continue to abuse the civilian population.” There are also allegations of collusion and other acts by the Sri Lankan state, which inhibit accountability for wartime crimes and protect perpetrators. This report describes command and control structures so well-established that criminal responsibility for certain crimes if proven at trial could lead to convictions of senior military commanders and Sri Lankan Government officials, as well as senior surviving members of the LTTE. ICEP is in the process of collecting new evidentiary material. Early analysis suggests that the Sri Lankan Government may have sought systematically to exhume and destroy evidence of mass civilian deaths. See here for key points of the report. Find full report here .

Key findings from the report entitled ‘Island of Impunity?’ are reproduced below. “The report illustrates violations perpetrated by both parties to the conflict and in particular, widespread torture, sexual violence and enforced disappearance, which continue in part today, perpetrated by SFs (Sri Lankan Forces) on the civilian population, “There are also allegations of collusion and other acts by the Sri Lankan state, which inhibit accountability for wartime crimes and protect perpetrators.” "Certain alleged crimes committed during the final months of the war involved such flagrant and reckless disregard for the laws of war, which strongly suggests there was intent to commit those crimes. For example, with effective control of all land, sea, and air approaches, the disciplined, well-trained and well-armed Sri Lankan SFs conducted indiscriminate artillery bombardments of areas of known civilian concentrations, also striking hospitals and humanitarian sites." On the destruction of mass graves sites, "Shortly before this report was finalised, ICEP obtained new eye-witness information in respect of the registration and burial of the civilian dead in the former conflict zone in Sri Lanka during the final five months of the war, and the alleged systematic destruction of civilian mass burial sites in the post-conflict period. "According to this witness, these burial sites contained human remains from hundreds, and in some instances, thousands of men, women and children who died during the conflict. The precise location of these, and other, burial sites, has been provided to ICEP, "This witness has alleged that scores of civilian mass burial sites were systematically destroyed after the conflict. According to this witness, the SFs, and specifically members of the Sri Lankan Police and Sri Lankan Army, are directly implicated in this conduct. This witness believes that senior SFs officials knew that graves were being identified for the purpose of exhumation, and permanent destruction, over a period of more than a year. Self evidently, these allegations are very serious and there is an urgent need for further investigation to determine their veracity." "[...] allegations are that human remains from mass burial sites in the conflict zone were exhumed and were covertly destroyed. This highlights the urgent need for an internationally-mandated investigation.” On indiscriminate killings of Tamil civilians, “The impact of attacks on civilians suggests that the use of military force was manifestly disproportionate to any anticipated military advantage,

The UNP has accused the government of human rights abuses, citing the Weliweriya incident, which left 3 Sinhalese dead, and the Welikade prison massacre , which left 26 Sinhalese and one Tamil dead. UNP MP Lakshman Kiriella said that both incidents are good examples of human rights being violated, according to Colombo Gazette . “The law and order situation has completely broken down in the country,” he said. Kiriella further said that the UNP is willing to help the government on the human rights issue but the government must first do its part. The opposition MP demanded the launch of a...

The ICEP report, 'Island of Impunity' , by the Public Interest Advocacy Centre, published today underscores the reason why an urgent international investigation is needed said Tamils across the world. Speaking to the Tamil Guardian, Suren Surendiran of the Global Tamil Forum (GTF) said, "This report is the latest in a mounting body of evidence which shows that the Sri Lankan government's mass killing of the Tamil people in the Vanni was planned and deliberate ." "This is exactly why many within the Tamil community have insisted it's a genocide, and so therefore, it is welcome that the report, along side an increasing number of international experts, calls for an investigation into possible genocidal acts ," he added. Tasha Manoranjan of PEARL, a US based advocacy organisation, told the Tamil Guardian that they welcomed the report for its "thorough overview of the widespread and systematic crimes committed by the Sri Lankan government against the Tamils," and particularly for its acknowledgement that these crimes could constitute genocide if the additional elements of this crime are found in subsequent investigations. Ms. Manoranjan said, "The crime against humanity of persecution, which is raised in the report, rises to the level of genocide when committed with the intent to destroy a particular group, and here, it is painfully apparent that the Sri Lankan government's acts were committed with the intent to destroy the Vanni Tamils, " "In recognising the intentional nature of attacks against Tamil civilians and the intent behind depriving the community of food and medical aid, the report presents evidence showing that the Sri Lankan government's actions were calculated to inflict as much death and destruction as possible ." " This report essentially provides a prima facie case for concluding that the Sri Lankan government committed genocide against Tamils ."