June 08, Colombo (LNW): International human rights watchdog Amnesty International has called on Sri Lankan authorities to guarantee that the ongoing excavation of a suspected mass grave in Jaffna adheres to global standards, as investigators have so far uncovered 19 human skeletons at the site.
The excavation, taking place in Siththuppaththi near Chemmani, marks a significant and deeply sensitive development in the country’s attempts to confront its past, particularly allegations of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings during the final years of Sri Lanka’s civil war.
Local journalist Kumanan Kanapathippillai reported that the forensic team, led by the Judicial Medical Officer overseeing the investigation, has requested an additional 45 days to continue work.
The court, in response, has instructed the official to present a detailed cost estimate for the upcoming phase of the excavation process.
The pit test excavation work carried out over the past 09 days in the Chemmani Siththuppaththi area is coming to an end today.
— Kumanan (@kumanan93) June 7, 2025
A total of 19 human skeletons have been identified and recovered during the excavation so far.
Yesterday, the Judicial Medical Officer requested a… pic.twitter.com/1djOTMY3d6
In parallel to the current dig, other areas of concern in the surrounding terrain — flagged via satellite imagery by Professor Raj Somadeva — have been surveyed using drones. The footage collected has been handed over to Professor Somadeva for further analysis, potentially broadening the scope of the investigation.
The next phase of the excavation is due to commence on June 26, amid growing calls for accountability and clarity in how the process is managed.
Amnesty, in a public statement, emphasised three urgent requirements: first, that authorities allocate the necessary financial and technical resources to ensure a thorough investigation; second, that access be provided to families of the disappeared as well as the media to promote openness; and third, that strict measures be taken to preserve the integrity of the excavation site.
The discovery at Siththuppaththi is reminiscent of earlier controversies surrounding the original Chemmani mass grave, where hundreds of alleged wartime disappearances were said to be linked to military activity.
Human rights advocates have long criticised delays and shortcomings in past investigations, warning that justice is often undermined by a lack of political will or institutional independence.
