The Australian Senate has passed a resolution calling for the establishment of an international investigation into crimes against humanity in Sri Lanka, this week.

The motion, which was proposed by the Labour Party and co-sponsored by the Greens went on to call on Australia to “co-sponsor any United States resolution at the UNHRC in March 2014 regarding Sri Lanka’s progress on accountability and human rights”.

Commenting on the successfully passed motion, Greens Leader Christine Milne said,

“The Australian Senate has sent a powerful message to the UN and international community about supporting an international independent war crimes investigation in Sri Lanka. This is a long awaited response to horrific allegations of war crimes and human rights abuses committed in Sri Lanka. New evidence from PIAC makes the investigation even more urgent. Prime Minister Tony Abbott must end his appeasement of the Sri Lankan government which is designed to bolster his cruel refugee policies here in Australia.”

Greens Senator Lee Rhiannon, also added,

“The world will be watching how Australia will be responding to this international call for a war crimes investigation. Today we have sent a clear message to Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop. Australia has co-sponsored the last two United Nations General Assembly Human Rights Council resolutions on Sri Lanka, and it is crucial that Australia does the same at the coming March meeting. The Greens have consistently called for a war crimes investigation and will continue to campaign strongly for one. We welcome Labor’s decision to now support this position.”

See the motion in full below.

The United States Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues Catherine Russell stated that the US was “also extremely concerned over the rise in rape and sexual assault”, as she addressed a group of non-governmental organisations in Sri Lanka earlier this week.

The Ambassador was addressing the group via internet video messaging after she was refused a visa to enter the country by the Sri Lankan government, which reportedly ‘pleased’ a ruling alliance constituent party.

Pictures: Veerakesari

Updated 20:13 GMT

Skeletal remains have been found yesterday evening at a playground in Trincomalee, whilst workers were trying to dig a well, reported the Veerakesari. 

Sri Lankan security forces, who arrived promptly to the scene, have closed the area off to the press and public, one witness, who wished to remain anonymous fearing his safety, told the Tamil Guardian this evening.

See video sent to Tamil Guardian.

Sri Lanka’s main opposition party, the UNP, has blamed the government for the resolution against Sri Lanka that is expected to be tabled at next month’s UN Human Rights Council meeting in Geneva, over allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

"The country is at a precipice and the government bears full responsibility for our country's current plight," the statement said.

The number of skeletons found in a mass grave in Mannar has risen to 61, with two more found on Wednesday.

More excavations are due to be held on Thursday, reported the Uthayan.

“In Geneva we are in touch with all parties looking at various aspects of the issue. It is something on our radar. We will see how it goes.”

“We will decide once the text of the resolution is made available. India has no position on it now.”

A programme of physical and psychological torture in Sri Lanka’s “rehabilitation” camps for former members of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, has been revealed in a report by an NGO.

Tamils Against Genocide (TAG) has gathered evidence from former detainees, who detailed systematic torture, beatings, humiliation and sexual abuse in the camps, and concluded that rehabilitation in Sri Lanka is a “physical and mental pacification programme that forms a cornerstone of the Sinhala-Buddhist nationalist state-building project”.

“Since Sri Lanka has not made any progress on a credible and transparent investigation, it was confirmed that the British Government is working with international partners to set up an Independent International Investigation in the island of Sri Lanka. The government feels that there is a good chance of passing the resolution with the support of international partners.”

 “It was also agreed that the substance of the resolution should have a strong mandate to implement the recommendations without any further delays with witness protection for all victims in order to serve justice and accountability for a long term sustainable peace on the island”

Outlining the key messages advocated by representatives of the Tamil community at the meeting, which was chaired by the Conservative MP for Ilford North, and Chair of the APPGT, Lee Scott, and included the Labour MP for Mitcham and Mordem Siobhan McDonagh, one source at the meeting told the Tamil Guardian, 

“we highlighted the likelihood of the Rajapaksa regime repudiating any resolution made against them and stressed the necessity to follow-up on the regime’s reaction to the resolution with travel bans and asset freezes.”

Today 5 years ago a young British Tamil self-immolated outside the United Nations Human Rights Council in protest at the inaction of the international community, in the face of the relentless onslaught of the Sri Lankan military on Tamils in the Vanni.