Excavations at the Chemmani Sittupattu cemetery site yesterday (15) uncovered skeletal remains of another 10 human bodies, raising the total recovered from the mass grave to 351, the largest such discovery reported from the Northern Province in recent history.
According to reports, Attorney V.K. Niranjan, representing families of the disappeared, said that by the 25th day of the sixth phase of excavations, skeletal remains of 360 bodies had been identified, of which 351 have so far been unearthed.
The work is being carried out under the direct supervision of Jaffna Magistrate S. Leninkumar, assisted by a team of experts including Senior Professor of Archaeology Raj Somadeva of the University of Kelaniya and Dr. Sellaiya Piranavan, forensic medicine specialist at the University of Jaffna.
Since April 27, 2026, the sixth phase alone has yielded remains of 112 bodies.
Investigators have also found fragments suspected to belong to small children, along with a piece of gold jewelry and coins. All skeletal remains and items are being securely held under court orders at the Faculty of Forensic Medicine, University of Jaffna. (Newswire)
