Special meeting on Kokkathuduwai mass grave today

A special meeting will be held today led by Mullaitivu Magistrate T. Saranavarajah on the next steps in the exhumation process of the recently discovered mass grave in Kokkathuduwai, Mullaitivu. According to the Police, all relevant agencies and stakeholders have been summoned for the meeting. 

Though the exhumation of the mass grave was halted on the orders of the Mullaitivu Magistrate earlier this month, Police Spokesman SPP Nihal Thalduwa opined it is likely the process will recommence following the meeting.  Earlier this month, the Magistrate had ordered a halt to the excavation. However, Thalduwa expressed the view that the process is likely to recommence following this meeting.Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP M.A. Sumanthiran has alleged the exhumation is not being carried out according to internationally accepted standards and technical procedures. 

Today’s meeting will be attended by officials of the Department of Archaeology, and the Government Analyst’s Department among others. 

The grave site was found on 29 June by construction workers from the National Water Supply and Drainage Board. The discovery of clothing and remains in the grave indicates a possibility that the bodies found could belong to LTTE cadres.