Excavation of the Chemmani Human Mass Grave to Resume on July 21

16-Jul-2025

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Arrangements have been made to resume, on the 21st of this month, the excavation work at the Chemmani human mass grave site, which was temporarily suspended.

The Chemmani mass grave case was taken up on 15-07-2025 before Magistrate A.A. Anandarajah at the Jaffna Magistrate’s Court.

Attorney Jeganathan Tharparan, appearing on behalf of the Office for Missing Persons, presented statements regarding matters related to the case.

Further, he stated, “reports related to the second phase of operations by Professor of Archaeology Raj Somadeva and a report by Judicial Medical Officer Pranavan were submitted, along with a brief summary of their contents to the court”.

During this submission, three main observations were highlighted. Experts have opined that there are traces suggesting a criminal incident occurred at the mass grave. 

No evidence of traditional cremation practices was observed. Further examinations were deemed necessary.

Results of the examinations concerning the skeletal remains, believed to be those of children identified as S25, S48, and S56, were considered particularly significant.

It was noted that there was consistent evidence regarding the garments and osteological aspects. Notably, the professor expressed the suspicion that the remains could belong to a girl approximately four to five years old.

Subsequently, attorneys and Member of Parliament Shritharan requested that their representatives be mandatorily permitted at the excavation site. The court took this request under consideration.

The Judicial Medical Officer informed the court that the next phase of excavation work will commence on the 21st. Therefore, excavation activities will resume on the 21st, he said.

The Chemmani mass grave case is scheduled to be heard again in open court on August 6.