Sampur Skeletal Remains Suspected as Mass Grave; Natural Death Ruled Out

11-Aug-2025

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A site suspected to be the seventh human mass grave discovered in Sri Lanka since the end of the war will be excavated under military supervision, as ordered by the court.

Judicial Medical Officer Nirmal Porrukama informed the court that it is difficult to conclude that the deaths of the three individuals whose remains were found on the Sampur beach were due to natural causes.

The Muttur Magistrate, H.M. Tasneem Fauzan, had earlier ordered excavation of the site after noting that the remains belonged to three individuals and there was no evidence of a formal burial ground.

The remains, including a skull, were discovered on July 20 by the UK-based Mines Advisory Group (MAG) during mine clearance operations.

The National Mine Action Centre told the court on August 6 that excavation on suspected mine-laden land is dangerous and recommended that the work be done with assistance from the provincial army commander.

Accordingly, the Muttur Magistrate ordered that the excavation be carried out under the supervision of the Eastern Province Commander with help from the Army Engineering Division, and postponed the case to August 26.

Local journalists reported that the land is government property with no evidence of a cemetery.

Following examination, JMO Nirmal confirmed to the court that the remains belonged to three men and that it was difficult to determine whether two of them—whose bones were found together—had died of natural causes.

Officials from several relevant departments were present during the proceedings.

The remains were found about 50 meters from a memorial for the July 7, 1990 Sampur massacre, in which the Sri Lankan Army is accused of killing 57 civilians by shooting, hacking, and burning.