Human skeletal remains, including skulls, have been discovered on a plot of land near the occupying Sri Lankan military camp in Karkovalam, Jaffna, raising fresh concerns in a region still haunted by the legacy of mass graves.
The discovery was made following a tip-off received by the occupying police force in Point Pedro, who were alerted to the presence of human bones and skulls at the site. Police officers subsequently visited the location and confirmed the findings.
According to reports, police are now conducting an investigation to establish the identity of the remains and how they came to be buried at the site. Further forensic examinations are expected to be carried out with the assistance of experts.
While no previous discoveries of this nature have been officially recorded in the immediate area, the proximity of the skeletal remains to a Sri Lankan military camp raises further suspicions about military atrocities.
Residents in Jaffna and across the North-East have long voiced concerns over the presence of unmarked graves and the fate of thousands of Tamil civilians who were forcibly disappeared during and after the armed conflict. The discovery near Karkovalam has now added to these fears. There have been repeated calls for international independent oversight of any excavation of mass graves.
Trigger warning - graphic photograph below
