Swiss Social Democratic Party calls for international genocide investigation into Sri Lanka

The Social Democratic Party of Switzerland (SP Switzerland) has unanimously passed a resolution on the situation in Sri Lanka, calling for an international genocide investigation at their party congress on the 25th of October 2025 in Sursee, Canton of Lucerne.

The resolution strongly condemns the “systematic violence, mass killings, and the grave human rights violations against Eelam Tamils”. Referencing a recent legal report on the Tamil genocide by the NGO People for Equality and Relief in Lanka, the resolution calls on the Swiss government, in cooperation with international bodies, to examine whether the crimes qualify as genocide under the UN genocide convention. The resolution also calls for a clear human rights-oriented Swiss foreign policy in Sri Lanka, the protection of Tamil asylum seekers, as well as cooperation and exchange with the Tamil diaspora in Switzerland, underscoring their decades-long work for human rights and accountability.

During the party congress, three Swiss-Tamil politicians from different regions of Switzerland presented the resolution, which was submitted by the party sub-group “SP Migrant:innen.”

Athushan Thavarajasingam reminded the congress of the current human rights situation in Sri Lanka, citing the continued use of the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act, the prevailing culture of impunity, and the plight of the Families of the Disappeared.

Theepika Shanmugarasa Krishnathasan referred to the long history of violence against Eelam Tamils. From the Black July pogrom in 1983 to the final stage of the armed conflict in 2009. She mentioned the burning of the Jaffna Library, the bombing of Sencholai children’s home, and the issue of the Chemmani mass graves.

Chandru Somasundaram opened his speech by recalling an event in Bern commemorating the 40-year history of the Tamil diaspora in Switzerland. He described the gathering of several generations under one roof united by shared memories of loss, displacement and resilience. Chandru spoke of the pride of a community that has built a home in Switzerland despite deep pain. 

After the resolution was passed, Theepika Shanmugarasa Krishnathasan, one of the initiators and co-president of SP Migrants Aargau, highlighted:

“This resolution is more than a political text; it is a promise to mothers who have lost their children. To families who have been waiting for justice for over sixteen years. To those whose voices were silenced, and to those who have never lost hope. The human rights violations against the Eelam Tamils must not be forgotten. What happened back then was a targeted crime: prepared, planned, and carried out. And the world looked the other way. But today, we are no longer looking the other way. By unanimously adopting this resolution, the Swiss Social Democratic Party (SP) is sending a clear message: We call out injustice. We stand with the victims. Justice must not wait, and the truth must no longer be suppressed.”

Chandru Somasundaram, another initiator and co-president of SP Stadt Bern, stated afterwards:

“With this resolution, the SP expresses its solidarity with the Tamils. It tells them: Your pain is not invisible, your story is also part of Switzerland's history. And the SP stands by your side out of conviction. Because human rights are non-negotiable and justice does not expire!”

The Social Democratic Party of Switzerland (SP Switzerland) is one of the oldest and most important political parties in the country. It has a strong presence at the national, cantonal, and municipal levels and currently has two members in the Federal Council, the Swiss government. The SP stands for social justice, equality, solidarity, and international human rights. It is the second-largest party in Switzerland and has over 35,000 members. The SP party congress, which took place on October 25, 2025, in Sursee (Canton Lucerne), is the party's highest body: delegates from across Switzerland meet here to discuss and decide on political positions, resolutions, and fundamental issues. In past years, SP members of parliament have commemorated the Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day, calling for an international investigation. 

Resolution demands (translated from German):

1. The Social Democratic Party of Switzerland (SP Switzerland) strongly condemns the systematic violence, mass killings, and the grave human rights violations against the Eelam Tamils. The NGO PEARL (People for Equality and Relief in Lanka) describes these acts as genocide against the Tamil people. SP Switzerland calls on the Federal Council, in cooperation with the United Nations and international expert bodies, to examine whether these crimes qualify as genocide under the 1948 UN Genocide Convention and to report on this to Parliament.

2. SP Switzerland calls for Switzerland to actively support independent international investigations and accountability efforts for the war crimes committed in Sri Lanka (e.g., through the UN Human Rights Council or by supporting the International Criminal Court).

3. SP Switzerland advocates for Switzerland’s foreign policy towards Sri Lanka to be clearly oriented toward the protection of human rights and to exclude any cooperation with institutions involved in war crimes.

4. SP Switzerland seeks cooperation and exchange with Tamil representatives from the diaspora in Switzerland, who have for decades been working for human rights and accountability for the crimes.

5. SP Switzerland demands that commemorative events, such as the Mullivaikkal Remembrance Day on May 18, be allowed to take place without restrictions.

6. SP Switzerland advocates for Tamil asylum seekers in Switzerland receive protection. Deportations should be suspended as long as safety and justice are not guaranteed in Sri Lanka (e.g., for relatives of the disappeared, human rights activists, journalists).
 

Read the full resolution, in German, here.