Incomplete excavations at the Chemmani mass grave, identified as Sri Lanka’s second-largest mass grave with 240 human skeletons found so far, have been suspended until the necessary funds are approved again, leaving behind one more discovered body.
Representing the victims, attorney V. S. Niranjan said that the skeletal remains of 239 persons had been unearthed by the time the second phase of excavations was halted on 6 September 2025. The second phase, carried out with previously approved funding, lasted 45 days.
The lawyer had also taken steps to inform journalists about the human skeletal remains and artefacts discovered during the excavations.
In addition to complete skeletons, 14 piles of bones have been recovered. More than 72 items including personal artefacts have also been recovered.
Among the items unearthed from the Chemmani mass grave along with human skeletal remains are baby feeding bottles, toys including dolls, children’s shoes, and school bags.
Regional correspondents quoting a report submitted by the Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) to the Jaffna Magistrate on 14 August 2025, reported of a ground penetrating radar (GPR) scan suggesting that more human skeletons could remain buried outside the already excavated area.
Excavation experts had therefore requested an additional eight weeks to continue the work.
Attorney Niranjan had informed journalists that at the next hearing scheduled for 18 September, the JMO will present to the court the proposed budget estimate for two months of excavations.
He had further stated that several expert reports on the excavation site are also scheduled to be presented to the court on that day.
Soil samples collected alongside skeleton no. 227, which had been buried in a cross-legged position, have been submitted to the Government Analyst for further examination.
Currently, part 1 of the Chemmani, Siththupaththi mass grave’s forensic excavation area measures 23 meters and 40 centimeters in length and 11 meters and 20 centimeters in width.
A human bone was first discovered from the site on 13 February 2025 during construction work.
The then Magistrate Amalavan Anandaraja, who arrived with Jaffna JMO Sellaiah Pranavan to examine the skeletal remains, ordered the police on 20 February 2025 to hand them over to the JMO in order to investigate whether they were human.
Excavations began on 15 May 2025 under a court order, and that process was guided by forensic archaeologist Professor Raj Somadeva and Jaffna JMO Pranavan.
The ‘Sathosa mass grave’ in Mannar is considered the largest mass grave discovered in Sri Lanka to date where 376 human skeletal remains including those belonging to 28 children have been exhumed.
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