Human skeletal remains found in Chemmani, Jaffna

By Situm Chaturanga

Colombo, June 4 (Daily Mirror) - The skeletal remains of seven human bodies have been recovered as of yesterday morning during ongoing excavations at Sittupatthu in Chemmani, Jaffna.

Excavations commenced on May 15 following a court order, after workers from the Nallur Pradeshiya Sabha discovered fragmented human skeletal remains while clearing a site for a construction project on February 20.

Acting on a report submitted by the Jaffna Police, Jaffna Magistrate A. Ananda Rajah ordered an official excavation of the site. The work is currently being carried out by a team of archaeologists led by Professor of Archaeology Raj Somadeva.

A team of lawyers, headed by Attorney-at-Law V.S. Niranjana, visited the site for an inspection yesterday and informed the media that the location could be officially declared a mass grave, given that remains of more than three individuals have already been recovered.

Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) of Jaffna General Hospital, Dr. S. Piriniwan, along with the police, is extending support to the archaeologists in the ongoing investigations.