7 Human Skulls Recovered from Chemmani Mass Grave

23-Jul-2025

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As of July 21, 2025, seven human skulls have been recovered from the Chemmani human mass grave in Jaffna. 

There is concern that many more human remains, including those of women and children, may be buried at the site.

The excavation began under court order after human remains were discovered in a pit at the Chemmani Sindhupathi Hindu Cemetery ground in Ariyalai.

Among the remains found is a skull believed to belong to a girl around 14 years old. There are indications that the grave contains the remains of many individuals and that these remains may have been transported from elsewhere and buried here.

Notably, the remains were not buried in an orderly fashion, leading to suspicion that many of the victims may have been beaten to death. The bones are estimated to date back about 20 years.