The Chemmani mass grave — designated a crime scene by the court — has been identified as the second largest mass grave in Sri Lanka based on the number of human skeletons discovered so far.
Excavations at the mass grave site resumed on Tuesday, August 26, after an 18-day break.
Attorney Ranitha Gnanarajah who represents the victims’ families said that by the evening of 26 August, the bones of 16 more persons had been unearthed from the Siththupaththi, Chemmani mass grave.
Journalists who visited the site reported seeing skeletal remains suspected to be those of several young children. Attorney Gnanarajah said that this will be confirmed after a forensic examination.
Tuesday (26 August) saw the highest number of human skeletons unearthed from the Chemmani mass grave in a single day.
So far, the skeletons of 166 persons, including those of young children, have been found in the Chemmani mass grave.
The Mannar ‘Sathosa’ mass grave, where 376 skeletons, including those of 28 young children, were found, is considered the largest mass grave discovered in Sri Lanka so far.
In 2013, 155 skeletons were unearthed from land near the Matale Hospital, and it is considered the third largest mass grave discovered in Sri Lanka.
The mass grave at the Colombo Port area, where at least 88 skeletons have been found so far, is considered the fourth largest mass grave in Sri Lanka. Its excavations have not yet been completed.
Meanwhile, the mass grave in Thiruketheeswaram, Mannar, where the remains of 82 persons were found in 2013, is considered the fifth largest mass grave. By the time excavations of the Kokkuthoduvai mass grave were completed, skeletal remains belonging to 52 persons had been found.
All mass graves were discovered by accident. (Islandnews)
