• Second stage of 45-day probe ongoing

At least five more sets of skeletal remains have been identified as of Friday (27) during the second stage of the Chemmani mass grave investigations.

The Sunday Morning learns from Office on Missing Persons (OMP) sources that the financial tranche for this stage covers 45 days.

However, the investigative process is being phased out instead of being undertaken for 45 days at a stretch.

Well-placed sources at the Ministry of Justice told The Sunday Morning yesterday (28) that the process was being carried out in two stages.

According to the source, upon the completion of the second stage, if funds are necessary for another stage, the ministry will be informed through the Jaffna Magistrate overseeing the excavation.

The preliminary stage of the Chemmani mass graves investigation in Jaffna concluded on 7 June. 

During this stage, human remains of at least 19 individuals were excavated, OMP Chairman Attorney-at-Law Mahesh Katulanda stated in a press release.

According to media reports from the site, excavations continue for periods of even 10 hours. The media is provided access to the site twice a day during excavations.

According to the OMP, the site is protected by the Police on a 24-hour basis, with the support of local community members associated with the Chemmani Sindhubathi Hindu Cemetery Board. 

They added that lawyers representing families of the disappeared and the complainants had been observing the case, alongside the OMP. 

The investigation is overseen by Jaffna Magistrate A. Anandarajah and is conducted by Consultant Judicial Medical Officer Dr. Selliah Pranavan and Archaeologist Prof. Raj Somadeva and his team. 

They are assisted by Sri Lanka Police Scenes of Crime Officers and labourers from the Nallur Pradeshiya Sabha.