40,000 dead is a ‘myth’ claims Sri Lanka’s disappearances commission chairman

27 January 2016

Reports of over 40,000 Tamil civilians having been killed during the final stages of Sri Lanka’s armed conflict is a “myth” claimed the chairman of Sri Lanka’s presidential commission into disappearances on Wednesday.

Justice Maxwell Paranagama released a statement, criticising  a Channel 4 News reportwhich detailed unresolved human rights abuses and continued military occupation in the North-East.

“Once again Mr Snow makes repeated references to the genocidal figure of 40,000 civilians killed in the final weeks of the war,” said Justice Paranagama, adding that “all available figures... makes the allegation of 40,000 a myth”.

He went on to address reports that the Sri Lankan army deliberately shelled ‘No Fire Zones’ declared during the closing weeks of the conflict by saying, “the LTTE never agreed to no fire zones… Therefore in international law they do not exist”.

He has previously rejected the UN Panel of Experts' estimated death toll of 40,000 Tamil civilians at the end of the armed conflict in 2009, as well as criticism from UN human rights chief Zeid Ra'ad al Hussain who called for the disbandment of the commission.

Justice Paranagama also rubbished reports that a previous inquiry he held had recommended an internationally involved mechanism, stating that “the proposed accountability mechanism… is purely a domestic process”.

The chairman went on to claim that the commission that he chairs has “confidence” from residents in the North, despite repeated protests outside sittings.

See the full statement below.