Mass grave in Mannar in northern Sri Lanka unearths 266 human skeletons

Saturday, 8 December 2018 00:35 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Skeletal remains of 266 people and human bones have been unearthed so far from the mass grave found in Mannar in Northern Sri Lanka since excavations began on 28 May this year, according to the Senior Judicial Medical Officer Shaminda Rajapaksa.

Rajapaksa, who is leading the investigation, said during the excavations on Thursday (6) a skeletal remain was found with the leg bones tied together by some metallic material.

This set of bones has been directed to attention of the Mannar Magistrate and tests will be conducted to determine whether the bones have been tied by a metal or it is a piece of jewellery worn on the legs or cement, Senior JMO said.

Until today excavations have been carried out for 113 days and skeletal remains belonging to 266 individuals have been unearthed from the mass grave at the old Sathosa building site, the official said.

Out of this total, skeletal remains of 260 individuals have been systematically removed and currently sealed and placed at the Mannar Magistrate’s Court complex, Dr. Rajapaksa said.

These skeletal remains will be sent to a lab in Florida, United States for radiocarbon dating, he further said.

Under the first and the second phases of excavations, soil mounds have been removed from the site, however, the perimeters of the excavation site would have to be expanded, he said.

Following the discovery of human remains on 26 March at the old Sathosa building in Mannar, further digging at the site was continued under the supervision of Mannar Magistrate M. Prabhakaran. The excavation of the site started on 28 May.