Following the interim report on the Chemmani mass grave in Jaffna by chief archaeologist Prof Raj Somadeva, the Democratic Tamil National Alliance (DTNA) and the Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP) have called for a credible and independent investigation into the same, expressing concern that speculation surrounding an interim archaeological report could undermine efforts to establish the truth about the human remains recovered from the site.
The interim report was submitted to the Jaffna Magistrate’s Court by Prof Somadeva and Anusha Wanninayake, on Tuesday (20), both of whom are involved in the excavation. The report reportedly raised the possibility that the burials could be associated with a natural disaster or an epidemic, a proposition that has drawn criticism from Tamil political representatives.
DTNA spokesperson Suresh K Premachandran said that an international investigation is necessary to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths and ensure accountability. He alleged that the Government is attempting to protect members of the security forces and previous administrations from scrutiny.
According to Premachandran, excavations conducted over 110 days during late last year (2025) and this year (2026) resulted in the recovery of 583 skeletons. However, the excavation process remains incomplete. He said that the site came to light after human skeletal remains were discovered during construction work at Sindhupathi, prompting judicial intervention and archaeological investigations.
Premachandran also referred to claims by former soldier Somarathna Rajapaksa, who was sentenced to death in connection with the rape and murder of schoolgirl Krishanthi Kumaraswamy. He said that Rajapaksa had previously claimed that more than 400 people had been killed and buried in the area and that he could identify the burial sites. Premachandran alleged that successive Governments had failed to act meaningfully on those claims. Premachandran argued that the scale of the remains required careful examination against historical records of deaths and burials.
He also referred to reports that some recovered skeletons showed possible gunshot and cut injuries, saying that the findings warranted thorough investigation. He cited estimates that more than 25,000 people had disappeared during the war, including hundreds from Jaffna. He expressed disappointment with the National People’s Power Government. Premachandran reiterated that international involvement is necessary to establish the facts and deliver justice to those buried.
Meanwhile, EPDP Media Secretary Srikanth Panneerselvam urged President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to take a firm and personal interest in the investigation, warning against conclusions based on speculation.
Speaking at a media briefing in Jaffna on Wednesday (21), Panneerselvam said that the possibility that the remains were linked to a natural disaster or epidemic required careful consideration but should not be presented as an established explanation without scientific evidence. He said that people who had lived in the region during the 1970s-1990s could recall that there had been no major natural disasters or epidemics claiming hundreds of lives on the scale that might explain the burials.
Panneerselvam argued that, even if some remains were associated with events centuries ago, it was unlikely that all the recovered remains belonged to the same period. He said that a considerable number could potentially date from after the 1990s. He also referred to records indicating that more than 850 people had disappeared from the area in 1996. He warned that speculative explanations could diminish the significance of the discoveries and create an environment in which the issue might be glossed over.
He urged the authorities to ensure that all possible explanations are tested through scientific investigations. He urged the President to demonstrate decisive leadership and ensure that the inquiry is not undermined by premature conclusions.
Both parties stressed that the circumstances surrounding the Chemmani burials must be established through a credible process.