Chemmani, a gravesite where bodies were buried, either illegally or secretly – experts

Expert opinion is that the Chemmani gravesite in Jaffna has had bodies buried, either illegally or secretly.

Forensic archaeologist Prof. Raj Somadeva and Jaffna JMO Selliah Pranavan informed the Jaffna magistrate’s court thus when it took up on 06 June a case filed by the aggrieved parties, seeking the declaration of Chemmani as a mass grave.

So far, skeletal remains of six persons have been unearthed out of at least 17 identified bodies.

After the hearing, lawyer Ranitha Gnanaraja told journalists the expert report finds the skeletal parts to have been buried in a chaotic situation or in a hurried manner.

Magistrate A.A. Anandaraja ordered the continuation of the excavations until the experts are satisfied with the work.

He also ordered the JMO to expedite the process to acquire funds for undisrupted progress.

Phase two excavations continued for the fifth day at Chemmani on 06 June.