A human skeleton has been discovered on in Mankulam, in the Mullaitivu district, prompting a police and forensic investigation to determine the identity of the deceased and the cause of death.
According to local reports, the remains were first sighted on 4 October by a resident who had entered the overgrown property and noticed skeletal bones lying amidst scrub forest. The individual immediately alerted the occupying Sri Lankan police in Mankulam, who arrived at the scene, cordoned off the area and commenced an investigation.
Forensic officers conducted a detailed examination of the site this week, recovering bones and other materials believed to be connected to the deceased. The Acting Magistrate of Mullaitivu, Nerojini Arthanan, also visited the location to oversee the recovery operation.
In the presence of the magistrate, forensic experts, a medical examiner and police officers jointly recovered the remains and other evidence, which were later transported to the Vavuniya Hospital for further analysis.
Items found at the scene included a skull, bones, fragments of clothing, a small sum of money and a bottle of poison. Investigators reported that the bones appeared to have been scattered by animals over time.
Police sources said it was likely that the death occurred several days earlier, though the exact cause and circumstances remain unclear. The Sri Lankan Police and forensic division have launched a joint inquiry to establish the individual’s identity and determine whether the death was due to suicide, foul play or other causes.
Mullaitivu, located in the Tamil homeland, has witnessed numerous discoveries of skeletal remains over the years, often raising questions about disappearances and wartime atrocities committed by the Sri Lankan state. While police have described this case as an isolated incident, human rights groups continue to call for independent forensic oversight in all such recoveries, citing the region’s history of mass graves and uninvestigated deaths.
Further examinations at Vavuniya Hospital are expected to confirm whether the remains belong to a recently deceased individual or to an older, unrecorded case.
