By Thangamuthu Jayasingam –

Prof. Thangamuthu Jayasingam

35 years of missing: Ray of hope for truth on the 158 missing from Eastern University refugee camp at Vantharumoolai, September 5, 1990

I stood in Chemmani exactly a month ago watching THE EXCAVATION in operation. Bodies had been exhumed, cleaned, and labelled and packed for further processing. An extremely arduous and laborious task. I saw  around judges, lawyers, human rights commissions, universities, civil society activists, police and security, students, professionals and relatives of the missing trying to resolve the puzzle: ‘Who are the buried ones and who buried them?’ Did those who were buried ever think that such a day would be when this happened, as some are kids with school bags.

I see that well narrated by a soldier in prison on this burial ground and the numbers lie beneath, true or not. Was he correct, are there many more beneath? As of today, the number unearthed is declared as 231, as of now (Veerakesari, 04 September 2025).

I cannot stop my mind that wandered around September 5, 1990, how I stood in the Eastern University refugee camp with hundreds where 158 were taken by the armed forces from there, not known to date. What would have been in their mind of their lives, families, etc. which had been destroyed by the events of that day? What would have been in the minds of the relatives and family over these years of their absence? What is in my mind? Will I stand to watch the unearthing of those in another day or surprisingly find them return? The history will speak of us one day with or without the evidences. I believe that one day, justice (maybe divine) will be seen and served… I may not be there in person, but the legacy would remain of the 158 that were taken from this camp at Vantharumoolai and not seen to this day and named as ‘missing persons’ in the books of the government and the Presidential Commission report.

Have they ever questioned those whom I had listed in the Presidential Commission for the Missing Persons of the East? If so, what is the outcome? If not, why? Will there be a Ratnayake who would be able to point a finger and say this is what happened, even in their last days to obtain solace? Waiting. Are there others in the region that witnessed anything around those days, September 5, 1990, who may give a clue to what happened? Whatever we know from rumours and unconfirmed information was that they were in the paper factory camp in Valaichenai and had been taken to Navalady camp. Where are they? The general who visited us in the refugee camp told me three days after the event, on 8th September 1990, ‘They are all LTTE and don’t ask about them.’ What does that sentence mean? Why have we not heard more on that inquiry though I had mentioned this to the Presidential Commission report?

The minorities in the country in many incidences are treated like ‘foreigners’ with no rights. Little to highlight, a former minister in the past had stated that the Muslims should leave for Arabia and the Tamils to India, from my memories,
and was never charged under hate speech or anything. I see the new OMP, but wonder as to why the complaints made to them in the early years and to the Presidential Commissions are still pending or sealed officially. Is it to satisfy some international agreement or norms? The government is new and may be different, just have some hope to expect difference? But the reluctance in allowing the Provincial Council election, denouncing the rights of the province and an international treaty also questions that. Is it the same wine in a new bottle? Recent announcement by the President that events before 2000 too would be investigated sheds a ray of hope to the 158, and many others of that era, who went missing.

1990 had been a bad year for the East, with two Muslim villages attacked and many abductions and arrests in the Tamil areas, including the Eastern University refugee camp and Thannamunai, of which many had been written or focused, while Sithandy, Pankudaweli and more are described in the Presidential Commission report. Unearthing the remains is one, but unearthing the files from the records is another, and we are more concerned of the first for the recognized ones, without which the second may never occur. More radar equipment for search of potential sites, as the one utilized at Chemmani (courtesy of University of Sri Jayawardenepura), would be a proposal for the diaspora communities to facilitate the truth-seeking faster, if possible.

I am informed by those working with those of the missing persons that they face immense stress on all sides. It may be better for the OMP to consider reparations to these families as interim humanitarian assistance, awaiting the truth, in terms of employment, assistance to these families which had been perhaps destroyed by the loss of the head of family. I am also informed that the land transfers, EPF and ETF payments of those using the missing certificate issued to the families in lieu of DEATH CERTIFICATE are having administrative impediments. I humbly request the government to clear these, as these people are searching for the missing for past 35 years and they need not have additional burden to their lives more than what they have already. Little to remind that the MPs were paid compensation for the losses of their houses in millions by months, while hundreds who lost their houses during the conflict are yet to be listed for payment. If there is will, then there is always a way, and the state should have the will for these people who have lost 35 years of normal life.

I seek nothing, but am reminded of a story that I had read in my school days: ‘God sees the truth but waits’ and I believe in it. Truth, commission or not, will emerge one day to tell the true story to the world, like Chemmani, and the sufferings of the families who faced missing, but remained in this so-called ‘emerald island’.

*Dr. T. Jayasingam, Professor Emeritus, Eastern University, Sri Lanka and Officer in Charge of Eastern University Vantharumoolai Refugee Camp, 1990