Trial digs suggest Chemmani burials extend further as toll hits 524

Human remains have been identified in both of the randomly selected test pits dug at the Chemmani mass grave in Jaffna, including a headless skeleton, in trial work intended to establish whether burials extend beyond the area already under investigation.

Three sets of remains, among them the headless skeleton, were identified in one of the pits, while a further set was identified and fully exhumed from the second.

The findings came as excavations entered their 102nd day on Monday, the 48th day of the third phase, for which the court authorised 56 days of work. Nine additional sets of human remains were identified during the day and seven previously identified sets exhumed, bringing the total to 524 sets identified at the site, of which 513 have been fully exhumed.

An iron horseshoe fitted to a cattle leg and a piece of bangle were also recovered as items of evidence.

The trial excavations were announced last week by the lawyer V.S. Niranjan, who said several locations would be selected at random by a team led by the archaeology professor Raj Somadeva, with Ground Penetrating Radar testing to follow wherever remains were found in order to determine whether fuller excavation was required.

Discussions have also taken place on excavating outside the cemetery boundaries, with satellite imagery to be examined for areas where changes to the terrain are visible.

Decisions on the proposed further investigations are expected at a hearing on 14 October, based on the reports available by then, including a comprehensive account of the radar survey already conducted at the site and of the evidence recovered so far. A decision on whether excavations continue beyond the currently authorised period is expected around 19 August.

Chemmani is the largest mass grave uncovered on the island, having surpassed the Mannar Sathosa site, and excavations have repeatedly unearthed the remains of infants and young children alongside artefacts including clothing, feeding bottles, toys and beads. Remains have also been recovered with the head and body separated, and on Saturday a headless skeleton was found with both hands bound and held against the chest.

The process of identifying the dead has still not begun, and at a hearing last month Sri Lankas Criminal Investigation Department told the court it had not yet been established whether a crime had taken place at the site.