Sri Lanka’s Justice Ministry has released approximately 1.9 million rupees to continue excavation work at the country’s second-largest mass grave in Chemmani Jaffna.
However, experts have stated that the next phase of the excavation cannot begin yet due to heavy rains causing waterlogging in the area.
The case related to the Chemmani Sindupathi Hindu Cemetery mass grave was taken up on Monday (13) before Jaffna Magistrate Selvanayagam Lenin Kumar. Following the hearing, Attorney Poorny Joseph Marianayagam from the Office on Missing Persons (OMP) confirmed that the requested funds had been received from the Justice Ministry.
After the court proceedings, the Magistrate, lawyers, OMP officials, and forensic experts visited the site. The experts informed the Magistrate that excavation work would have to be postponed until the weather improves.
The case will be taken up again on November 3, 2025.
The previous phase of excavation, which lasted more than 45 days, concluded on September 6, 2025. Out of 240 human skeletons discovered, all but one had been exhumed. Items such as a baby feeding bottle, toy, children’s shoes, and a school bag were also recovered.
The largest mass grave found in Sri Lanka so far is the Mannar Sathosa site, where remains of 376 individuals, including 28 children, were unearthed.
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