Child’s skeletal remains with schoolbag uncovered at Chemmani mass grave

A child’s skeletal remains alongside a blue schoolbag and clothing items was unearthed at the Chemmani mass grave site in Jaffna today, as the total number of human remains unearthed at the site now stands at 33.

Excavations resumed on Sunday under the supervision of Jaffna Magistrate A. Anandarajah, with Judicial Medical Officer Dr Pranavan Sellaiah and Archaeology Professor Raj Somadeva also present at the scene. The latest findings include skeletal remains believed to be those of a small child, discovered with a schoolbag marked by the printed text of the alphabet.

Trigger warning. Images some readers may find distressing below.

The Chemmani mass grave, located in the Sindhupaththi area of Chemmani village in Jaffna’s Nallur division, has long been associated with enforced disappearances and extrajudicial executions carried out by Sri Lankan security forces during the late 1990s. The area, then under heavy military occupation, became the focus of international attention in 1998 when Sri Lankan soldier Somaratne Rajapakse testified that hundreds of Tamil civilians had been buried there by the military.

Sunday marked the fourth day of the second phase of the current excavation, which began in May and was paused before resuming last week. To date, 33 human skeletal remains have been identified, with 22 of them already exhumed. 

Soil analysis was also conducted today by experts from the Industrial Technology Institute (ITI) in Colombo, following court approval earlier this week. Satellite imagery has been used to identify additional potential burial sites, which have now been cleared in preparation for future excavations.

The identification of children’s remains – particularly with evidence such as schoolbags – underscores longstanding allegations that children were among those murdered and buried at the site. Human rights organisations and Tamil civil society have repeatedly called for internationally monitored forensic investigation, citing the Sri Lankan state's history of suppressing evidence and obstructing justice.

Although the government allocated Rs. 12 million for the excavation, only a portion of the funds have reportedly been released. Excavations are currently being conducted in 15-day phases, with operations expected to continue after a short break. Sunday’s dig concluded at 1 p.m. and is scheduled to resume Monday morning.