Research Report (May 2026) A Comprehensive Review of Investigations, Forensic Findings, and Accountability Plain-Text Summary The Chemmani mass grave site, located near Jaffna in northern Sri Lanka, is one of the most significant sites linked to enforced disappearances during the country's 26-year Armed conflict (1983–2009). The site first came to public attention in 1998, when Lance Corporal Somaratne Rajapakse confessed in court that 300–400 bodies had been buried there by Sri Lankan Army personnel. A court-ordered excavation in 1999 uncovered 15 skeletons, three of which were identified by relatives. In February 2025, human remains were rediscovered during crematorium construction at Sinthupathy Cemetery. Two subsequent excavation phases in 2025, conducted under judicial supervision, documented 240 skeletal remains — including those of children — along with personal effects such as school bags, toys, feeding bottles, and glass bangles. The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lan...