The number of bodies identified at the Chemmani mass grave has exceeded one hundred, with more work set to continue, making the site one of the largest mass graves on the entire island.
Excavation work at two mass grave sites in the Chemmani area of Jaffna continued on Monday, with judicial oversight in place as forensic teams work through the second phase of the court-mandated process.
The sites, officially designated as “Forensic Excavation Site No. 01” and “Forensic Excavation Site No. 02,” have been the focus of forensic investigations into suspected mass killings of Tamils committed by Sri Lankan armed forces. Monday marked the 23rd day of this second phase and the eighth consecutive day of its second segment.
While no newly identified skeletal remains were discovered on Monday, one previously documented set of human remains was fully exhumed, bringing the total number of complete skeletal remains exhumed during the last eight days to 31.
So far, a total of 96 complete sets of skeletal remains have been exhumed over 32 days of excavation work in Chemmani, with 104 skeletal sets identified overall since the process began. In addition, eight items of evidentiary value were recovered over the last two days, bringing the total number of forensic exhibits to 54.
On Sunday, five previously identified sets of skeletal remains were fully exhumed. These were among the 36 skeletal sets identified so far during the second part of this phase, of which 30 have now been fully excavated.
A polythene bag marked as forensic material was also unearthed alongside one of the skeletal remains and handed over to the judicial medical officer for further examination.
The Chemmani site is one of several suspected mass grave locations in the North-East that have drawn scrutiny over the years. Many of the remains are believed to be victims of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings carried out by Sri Lankan state forces in the 1990s. Rights organisations and Tamil families have long demanded a credible international investigation into the graves, citing concerns over state interference and lack of transparency in domestic forensic processes.
The courts have authorised 45 days for this phase of excavation, with judicial supervision mandated throughout. The discovery of mass graves in Chemmani was first revealed in 1998 by a Sri Lankan soldier who testified that hundreds of Tamils were buried in the area following execution by the military.
