Court-supervised excavations at the Chemmani–Siththupathy mass grave site in Jaffna resumed on Monday, with investigators uncovering one additional human skeleton, bringing the total number of skeletal remains identified at the site to 262.
The latest discovery was made on the thirteenth day of excavation activities, following a temporary suspension after the completion of the first twelve days of work under the third phase of investigations. Legal experts monitoring the process confirmed that one new set of remains was formally documented on the first day after operations recommenced. Of the 262 skeletal remains identified so far, 260 have now been fully excavated.
Investigators also recovered an artefact linked to the latest set of remains, raising the total number of items uncovered at the site to 99. Among the artefacts retrieved during the ongoing excavation is a neck chain bearing a coin-shaped pendant, which may assist in future identification efforts.
The Chemmani mass grave site has long been associated with allegations of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings during the final years of Sri Lanka’s civil conflict. Earlier claims, dating back to the late 1990s, suggested that large numbers of individuals were buried in the area following detention by security forces. These allegations have led to intermittent investigations over the years, with renewed excavations now being conducted under judicial supervision in an effort to establish the truth and provide accountability.
The current phase of excavations is part of broader efforts to address unresolved cases of missing persons in the country’s Northern Province. Authorities and legal observers have emphasised the importance of maintaining transparent, methodical procedures at the site, including the preservation of evidence and proper documentation, to support both identification processes and any future legal proceedings.
Further excavation work is expected to continue as investigators seek to determine the full extent of the burial site and to identify the individuals whose remains have been uncovered.