Excavations Uncover Mass Grave in Sri Lanka with 141 Skeletons

A mass grave in the Chemmani area of northern Sri Lanka has revealed 141 human skeletons, alongside personal items such as a baby bottle, children’s clothing, and a schoolbag. The grave is located near Jaffna, a region significant to the country’s Tamil minority, and has drawn attention due to its potential links to the civil war that raged from 1983 to 2009.

Excavation work began in June 2023 after workers stumbled upon human remains while digging for an electric crematorium. Over the course of nine days, a pit test unearthed 19 sets of human remains, leading investigators to conclude that the site was a mass grave due to the shallow burials, which were about 1.5 meters deep and lacked clothing.

As the investigation progressed, authorities confirmed the discovery of 141 skeletons within a 165-square-meter area. Notably, approximately 135 of these remains had no associated clothing, while a single set of adult clothing was identified. Among the recovered items was a schoolbag linked to a young girl, estimated to be between the ages of 4 and 6.

Historical Context and Confessions

The site has become controversial, particularly due to a confession from former soldier Somaratne Rajapakse, who, in 1998, was sentenced to death for the rape and murder of a schoolgirl along with her family members. Rajapakse claimed to know the locations of up to 400 bodies buried in Chemmani, raising suspicions about the military’s involvement in the disappearances of civilians during the long conflict.

Activist Brito Fernando has pointed to the military’s historical presence in the area, which was under military control from 1996 until the end of the civil war in 2009. He emphasized that while it remains unclear who the perpetrators are, the evidence points toward the army. “We cannot say exactly who the perpetrators are yet, but the finger points to the (state) army,” he stated.

The 1998 confession has been a focal point in ongoing investigations, which have often stalled. Families of the missing have expressed a desperate need for closure, with many hoping that these recent excavations might yield answers.

Families Demand Accountability

Items retrieved from the grave site were displayed publicly in early October, attracting many visitors from local communities hoping to identify belongings of their missing relatives. Amalanathan Mary Calista, whose husband disappeared in 1996, attended the exhibition with a heavy heart. “I went there hoping to see at least his clothes,” she lamented, noting her disappointment in finding only children’s garments.

Another local, Sivanathan Selvamalar, recounted witnessing her brother being taken away by soldiers years earlier. She, too, has been left in uncertainty, stating, “We have checked all the prisons but have not found them.” The absence of children from missing persons reports further complicates the situation. A report from Sri Lanka’s Human Rights Commission highlighted a lack of accountability, with the military implicated in a majority of the cases.

Calls for further investigation are growing. Activists like Fernando emphasize the need for a credible approach, including the establishment of a DNA bank to help identify the remains. “Only a proper investigation by the government can free its military from suspicion,” he remarked.

As excavations continue, with plans to extend the search for another eight weeks, the attorney Ranitha Gnanarajah indicated that ground-penetrating radar has shown potential additional burial sites within the cremation ground. The area scanned is three times larger than the initial excavation site.

Army spokesman Brig. Waruna Gamage stated that there are no formal accusations against the military regarding the mass grave, insisting that any claims must be substantiated with proof. “The excavations are still ongoing and it is a civil matter belonging to the police and courts,” he said.

The quest for truth and accountability continues as families hold onto hope for closure and recognition of the tragedies endured during the civil war.