Forensic Notes on Exhumations and Investigations in Sri Lanka

By: Wimal Navaratnam, Human Rights Activist, July 06,2025

Overview and Forensic Context

Forensic Notes on Exhumations and Investigations

Delayed and Incomplete Exhumations

Many sites were uncovered by chance (e.g. by construction or demining crews) and then faced long delays or partial excavations. In several cases (Kalavanchikudy, Chemmani, etc.), court-ordered exhumations stalled or remained incomplete for years. Only 7 out of 32 known mass graves (island-wide) had been fully excavated by 2023, and even those yielded few identifications or prosecutions. Families still have no closure in the vast majority of cases.

Site Tampering and Evidence Loss

A recurring issue is poor preservation of grave sites, leading to contamination and loss of forensic evidence. For example, the 2013 Mannar mass grave site was left exposed to the elements and unauthorized access, contaminating remains before analysis. At Jaffna’s Duraiappah Stadium and the Matale grave (central Sri Lanka), authorities even allowed construction *over the graves* without completing investigations. Such actions destroyed context and undermined future forensic testing. In the recent Mullaitivu excavation, observers noted the dig lacked proper perimeter security and controls – people were wandering in and out, and there was no protection from rain – raising fears of evidence being disturbed or degraded.

Political Interference

Investigations have been hampered by apparent interference and lack of political will. Magistrates, forensic experts and police investigators have been transferred or removed mid-investigation, causing disruption. In some instances, authorities abruptly halted funding or support – for example, in 2024 the government refused to fund continued digging at the Kokkuthoduvai mass grave. Past commissions of inquiry were *never* given a mandate to probe mass graves. These factors point to an environment of impunity and deliberate obstruction, as noted by human rights groups.

Limited Forensic Capacity

Sri Lanka has historically lacked advanced forensic anthropology infrastructure for mass graves. DNA analysis is rarely done – there is no systematic DNA database of war missing, and resources for testing are scarce. In the Mannar graves, for instance, carbon dating results were contested and inconsistent, reflecting the need for better methods. Experts stress that establishing a clear chain of custody for remains and associated evidence is essential but hasn’t always been achieved. The Office on Missing Persons (OMP) can legally observe exhumations, but its role has been limited and it cannot initiate criminal justice outcomes. As a result, nearly all recovered skeletons remain unidentified – no comprehensive effort has been made to match them with the tens of thousands of missing person reports.

Evidence of Atrocities

Forensic examinations that were done revealed signs consistent with mass executions and violent deaths. For example, in the Mannar Sathosa grave, many skeletons showed deep cut marks and some had limbs bound with rope. The presence of infants and children’s remains in graves like Chemmani and Mannar indicates that entire families or groups of civilians were killed. Personal effects (clothing, artifacts) found with bodies have occasionally allowed investigators to estimate timeframes (e.g. coins or wrappers with dates), but these clues are often sparse. The forensic evidence across sites strongly suggests systematic killings (rather than combat casualties alone), underscoring allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Lack of Accountability

No perpetrators have been held accountable for any of these mass graves to date. Even in well-documented cases (Chemmani, Mirusuvil, etc.), convictions were rare or undone. This lack of justice is linked to the forensic gaps: without identified remains or complete analyses, legal cases cannot progress. The neglect of proper forensic investigation – whether by design or default – has thus directly contributed to continuing impunity.

Recommendations for Further Action

Protect Suspected Sites:

All known or suspected mass grave locations should be secured and preserved as crime scenes. This means cordoning off sites, halting any development or soil disturbance, and providing guarding to prevent tampering. Past graves were damaged by neglect; going forward, authorities must follow the Bournemouth Protocol guidelines and safeguard these areas until professional investigations are complete.

Independent Forensic Investigations:

Establish a specialized task force (including international forensic experts) to systematically excavate and investigate mass graves. Given local capacity limitations and issues of trust, international forensic archaeologists and observers (e.g. from the UN or ICMP) should assist to ensure best practices and impartiality. Modern techniques like ground-penetrating radar, DNA profiling, and forensic archaeology should be employed to maximize evidence recovery and identification.

Comprehensive Data Collection:

Create a centralized database for ante-mortem data (information from families of the missing) and post-mortem findings. As excavations proceed, collect DNA samples from remains and explore matching with family DNA samples where possible. Document clothing, jewelry, and other personal items systematically so they can be shown to relatives for potential recognition. This will improve the chances of identifying victims and linking them to disappearance cases.

Involve Families and Communities:

Families of the disappeared must be kept informed and allowed to participate (as observers) in the process. Their testimonies and local knowledge can guide investigators to suspected grave sites (many locations, like Kurukkalmadam, are known in local memory). Inclusion of families also builds transparency and confidence. Grieving communities should be consulted on dignified handling and memorialization of remains once investigations conclude, to facilitate proper reburials or memorials.

Expedite Pending Exhumations:

Prioritize long-delayed cases – for example, Kalavanchikudy (Batticaloa) – where court orders for exhumation have languished for years. Adequate funds and expert teams should be allocated to these sites immediately. Similarly, the partially excavated Chemmani and Mullaitivu sites require follow-up digs to ensure all remains are recovered. Time is critical, as evidence continues to deteriorate and witnesses age.

Legal Framework & Oversight:

Sri Lanka should establish a permanent mechanism or commission for mass graves, with a clear legal mandate to investigate wartime disappearances through excavations. This body should coordinate among police, judicial medical officers, archaeologists, and the OMP, ensuring investigations lead to judicial action. Importantly, domestic laws may need reform so that findings from these exhumations *can* be used in criminal prosecutions (current provisions limit this). Independent oversight (possibly by international observers or a UN mechanism) is recommended to prevent political interference.

Further Mapping and Searches:

Conduct proactive surveys of other potential grave sites in the North-East. Testimonies and reports suggest there are many unmarked graves near former conflict zones and military camps. Techniques like GIS mapping, satellite imagery analysis (as done in the Nandikadal area), and ground surveys with cadaver dogs or GPR should be used to locate hidden graves. A publicly accessible map of all identified mass grave sites should be maintained to acknowledge these locations and prevent them from being built over or forgotten.

By implementing these steps, Sri Lanka can move toward uncovering the truth of these mass graves. Each site holds crucial evidence about the country’s past abuses. Properly excavating and analyzing them – with transparency, scientific rigor, and respect for the victims – is essential for justice and closure. Ultimately, acknowledging and preserving these sites (through memorials or markers after investigations) will honor the dead and remind future generations of the urgent need for reconciliation and non-repetition. The graves may be hidden beneath the soil, but the demand for truth and accountability remains a pressing issue for Sri Lanka’s post-war society.

Mass Graves in Sri Lanka: Overview and Forensic Context

Symbols:

🟥 = Confirmed mass grave

🟦 = Partial excavation/inconclusive

🟨 = Suspected/uninvestigated

Symbols:

  - 🟥 = Confirmed mass grave

  - 🟦 = Partial excavation/inconclusive

  - 🟨 = Suspected/uninvestigated

Marked Locations:

Marker	Location	District	Remains Found	Year(s)	Notes
🟥	Chemmani	Jaffna	1999: 15 2023–25: 48+	1999 / 2023–25	Infants, blindfolds, schoolbag; live excavation
🟥	Mirusuvil	Jaffna	8	2000	Tamil family massacred; 3 children
🟦	Mannar Town	Mannar	357 skeletons	2013 / 2018–19	Largest grave; dating disputed; 29 children
🟥	Kokkuthoduvai	Mullaitivu	13	2023	Torn uniforms; drone-assisted survey
🟨	Vellamullivaikkal	Mullaitivu	Unknown	2009 / N/A	Site of mass civilian killings; no exhumation yet
🟨	Murukkanchenai	Batticaloa	3+	2016	Bones in former Army camp; calls for excavation
🟨	Kaluwanchikudy	Batticaloa	Unknown	1990s / N/A	LTTE-Muslim conflict zone; politically sensitive
🟨	Trincomalee Naval Dockyard	Trincomalee	Unknown	Ongoing	Suspected burials; restricted access

Site-Specific Notes and Recommendations

Forensic Notes & Excavation Recommendations

Chemmani:

Artifacts found: Baby shoe, schoolbag, bangles, clothing

Recommendations: Expand satellite-based site survey; preserve soil and DNA samples; continue multi-phase excavation with UN oversight

Mannar:

Artifacts found: Children’s skeletons, burial layering

Issue: Dating claims (15th century) disputed by lead archaeologist

Recommendations: Re-run carbon dating with neutral lab; reclassify site as wartime grave for proper legal treatment

Kokkuthoduvai:

Context: Discovered near abandoned Army camp

Recommendations: Extend perimeter scan via drone; sample all peripheral pits; apply DNA matching if possible

Unexcavated Sites

Vellamullivaikkal

Kalavanchikudy

Trincomalee

Urgent Actions:

·        Official site protection orders

·        Court-mandated forensic evaluations

·        International visibility via OHCHR and civil society petitions

·        Summary of Key Mass Grave Sites (North & East Sri Lanka)

Major mass grave sites in Sri Lanka’s Northern and Eastern provinces, with discovery dates, number of human remains found, and contextual background. All these graves are linked to the civil war (1983–2009) and related atrocities. Despite some excavations, identification of victims and accountability for these sites remain elusive in most cases.

Location (Site)	Year Discovered	Remains Found	Context (Brief Description)
**Chemmani** (Jaffna District)	1998–1999	15 skeletons (initial); more in 2025	Mass grave of Tamil civilians who **disappeared** during mid-1990s military operations. Allegations of 300+ bodies; 15 exhumed in 1999 (2 identified as 1996 missing persons). Renewed digs in 2025 uncovered additional remains (incl. infants), pointing to 1990s **war crimes**.
**Duraiappah Stadium** (Jaffna)	1999	25 skeletons (incl. 2 children)	Unearthed during stadium renovations. Believed to be victims of mid-1990s Jaffna fighting and **enforced disappearances** under military control. Construction was allowed before fully completing forensic investigation.
**Mirusuvil** (Jaffna District)	2000	8 bodies	Shallow grave of a Tamil family (incl. children) massacred by Army in Dec 2000. Exposed by a survivor, leading to Sri Lanka’s **only conviction** for a mass grave killing (convicted soldier later pardoned). Illustrates extrajudicial killings during the civil war’s later years.
**Thiruketheeswaram** (Mannar District)	2013	82 skeletons	Discovered laying water pipes near a Hindu temple. **War-era mass grave**; remains possibly from late 1980s–1990s conflict. Poor site security led to contamination, undermining forensic analysis. Investigation ongoing; interim reports detail age/sex but final identifications pending.
**Mannar “Sathosa”** (Mannar Town)	2018	276–376 skeletons (28 children)	*Largest mass grave in Sri Lanka.* Found at a former cooperative store site during construction. Mixed artefacts and controversial carbon dating (some remains dated to 1400–1650 AD) caused dispute. Many skeletons showed **signs of violence** (bound limbs, cut marks) suggesting victims of past atrocities. Declared a crime scene; full forensic report pending.
**Kokkuthoduvai** (Mullaitivu District)	2023	13+ bodies (ongoing)	Found by accident in a former war zone (Kokkilai area). Remains of males and females with LTTE uniforms, likely fallen **Tamil Tiger fighters** buried during final war phases. Excavation started under court order, but method was criticized (site not properly secured). This would be the 14th North-East mass grave site.
**Muhamalai** (Kilinochchi District)	2024	“Several” skeletons	Detected by deminers on the former **Elephant Pass** frontline. Bones found with an LTTE uniform. Indicates a war-era grave (likely combatants or victims from 2009 final battles). Magistrate ordered full exhumation. Illustrative of many unmarked graves along former battlefields.
**Kalavanchikudy** (Batticaloa District)	1990 (known); 2014 (court order)	An estimated 150+ bodies (not exhumed)	Site of the **1990 massacre of Muslim civilians** by the LTTE at Kurukkalmadam (Eastern Province). Locals identify the mass burial of their community (men, women, children). In 2014, families petitioned for exhumation; a court approved it, but excavation never occurred due to lack of government support. Families still await proper burial and justice.

Excavation Team and Responsibilities

The excavation is being conducted under court supervision with a multidisciplinary team:

·        Jaffna Magistrate A.A. Anandarajah

·        Oversees legal compliance and authorizes forensic procedures.

·        Judicial Medical Officer Dr. Pranavan Sellaiyah

·        Leads forensic recovery and biological analysis of remains.

·        Archaeologist Prof. Raj Somadeva

Directs excavation strategy, site mapping, and artifact documentation.

·        Colombo Forensic Team

Collects soil samples, conducts lab testing, and supports skeletal analysis.

·        Nallur Pradeshiya Sabha Workers

Initially discovered the remains during construction in February 2025.

Equipment and Forensic Methods

The team is using a combination of archaeological and forensic tools:

·        Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) and satellite imagery to identify burial zones

·        Trowels, brushes, and sieves for delicate excavation

·        GPS mapping tools to log grave coordinates

·        Protective gear (gloves, masks, suits) for contamination control

·        Portable forensic tents for on-site analysis and preservation

Equipment and Forensic Methods

The forensic process includes:

·        Osteological analysis to determine age, sex, and trauma

·        Carbon dating and soil chemistry tests to estimate burial timelines

·        DNA sampling for potential identification (pending lab capacity)

·        Artifact analysis (e.g. clothing, bangles, schoolbags) to match NGO aid records

·        Rapid DNA protocols aligned with updated FBI Quality Assurance Standards (effective July 1, 2025)

Sri Lanka has requested access to UN forensic labs but currently plans to conduct testing domestically, raising concerns about transparency.

New Discoveries and Security Measures

·        Total skeletal remains recovered: 40

·        Includes at least 3 infants, one under 10 months old

·        Some remains found in shared graves, suggesting mass executions

·        Personal items recovered: blue schoolbag, toy sandal, glass bangles

·        New excavation zone identified near the Sindhubathi cremation grounds

·        Based on satellite scans and soil anomalies

·        Court approved 45-day extension for continued digging

New Discoveries and Security Measures

·        Police officers are guarding the site 24/7 to prevent tampering

·        Court-ordered supervision ensures chain of custody

·        Remains stored in sealed forensic containers pending lab analysis

·        Civil society groups have demanded CCTV surveillance for transparency

MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam raised concerns about the adequacy of security and called for international oversight to ensure the integrity of the process.

     In solidarity,

     Wimal Navaratnam

     Human Rights Advocate | ABC Tamil Oli (ECOSOC)

     #UnquenchableLamp #ChemmaniTruth #JusticeForTheDisappeared             #SriLanka #HumanRights