“Unearthing the Truth of Thambiluvil” They were never forgotten—now, the ground itself remembers.

Where secrets of war sleep beneath sacred ground, and justice awakens through every spade of earth.

Investigations at Thambiluvil Cemetery: Excavation Purpose, Findings, and Significance

“They were never forgotten—now, the ground itself remembers.”

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🛑 Reader’s Disclaimer

This report contains content that may be emotionally distressing, including references to enforced disappearances, mass graves, and wartime atrocities. While every effort has been made to present factual and respectful information, readers are advised that descriptions of excavations and skeletal remains may be unsettling. The material within is based on publicly reported investigations and does not presume legal guilt. All individuals mentioned in connection with these cases are considered innocent until proven otherwise in a court of law. The purpose of this work is to inform, reflect, and foster responsible dialogue. Discretion is advised.

Purpose of the Excavation

Sri Lanka’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has launched a forensic excavation at the Thambiluvil public cemetery in the Eastern Province. The operation is driven by recent evidence alleging that paramilitary killings during the civil war were concealed here. In particular, investigators suspect that Sivanesathurai “Pillayan” Chandrakanthan, an ex-rebel turned politician, and his associates secretly buried victims at this site. Pillayan, formerly a regional rebel commander, is implicated in at least 30 extrajudicial murders from the mid-2000s. After his arrest in April 2025, information he revealed led police to focus on Thambiluvil cemetery as a possible mass grave for those crimes. In essence, the purpose of the excavation is to uncover human remains and physical evidence tied to high-profile disappearances – including the 2006 abduction of Eastern University Vice Chancellor Prof. Sivasubramaniam Raveendranath – believed to have been carried out by Pillayan’s group. Authorities aim to confirm the fate of these victims, gather evidence for prosecutions, and bring a measure of truth to families of the disappeared.

Findings and Progress

Excavation work at Thambiluvil cemetery began in mid-2025 under tight security and judicial supervision. Multiple CID teams and forensic experts have been deployed to systematically search the burial ground. According to local media, officers conducted grid-by-grid digs in the Hindu cemetery, even using satellite imagery and ground scanners to identify disturbed earth. As of late July 2025, the investigation is ongoing and no official tally of remains has been released. However, officials have indicated that several “areas of interest” were identified within the cemetery. Soil disturbances and fragments of evidence (such as clothing or personal items) have been noted, suggesting clandestine burials. The presence of skeletal material is strongly suspected – Pillayan’s testimony pointed to this cemetery as a burial site – but forensic teams are carefully exhuming to preserve any evidence. The police have not yet confirmed publicly if human remains have been found at Thambiluvil, likely due to the sensitive, ongoing nature of the case. Nonetheless, the very act of excavation is significant: it marks the first time a suspected Eastern Province mass grave is being officially exhumed for wartime crimes. Investigators are meticulously documenting any artifacts, bones, or DNA for analysis, while judiciary officials oversee the chain of custody. The progress has been slower than hoped (in part due to heavy monsoon rains and the need for proper forensic protocol), but the commitment to uncovering the truth is evident. Each shovel of earth at Thambiluvil brings the authorities closer to answers about these long-hidden atrocities.

Historical Significance

This inquiry has profound historical resonance. Thambiluvil is located in Ampara District – part of the Eastern Province that endured heavy violence during Sri Lanka’s 26-year civil war. Unlike better-known mass grave sites in the north (such as Chemmani in Jaffna), Eastern Sri Lanka’s wartime tragedies have only recently begun coming to light. The current excavation seeks to address that gap. It is closely linked to the Pillayan-Karuna faction’s reign of terror in the mid-2000s. After splitting from the Tamil Tigers (LTTE) in 2004, Vinayagamoorthy “Karuna” Amman and his deputy Pillayan aligned with the Sri Lankan Army and carried out abductions and assassinations of rival Tamils in the Eastern region. Many victims – journalists, aid workers, academics, and civilians – vanished without a trace. For decades, their families had no graves to mourn. Now, the Thambiluvil cemetery probe is uncovering that dark history. It follows the trail of cases like the Christmas 2005 murder of MP Joseph Pararajasingham (for which Pillaiyan was long suspected) and the December 2006 disappearance of Prof. Ravindranath, the Eastern University Vice Chancellor. Investigators believe victims of such killings may lie in unmarked graves here. This effort is historically significant as it represents a belated reckoning with Eastern Province war crimes. It parallels recent excavations in the Northern Province – for example, over 118 skeletons (including infants’) were exhumed in 2025 from a mass grave at Chemmani in Jaffna – but Thambiluvil is the first major excavation of its kind in the East. Unearthing remains in this cemetery could fill important gaps in Sri Lanka’s wartime record, corroborating long-suspected patterns of enforced disappearances. Each find would not only serve as forensic evidence but also as historical documentation of atrocities that were denied or hidden. In short, what is happening at Thambiluvil is both an active criminal investigation and a chapter in the ongoing history of post-war truth-seeking. It signals that even 16+ years after the war’s end, Sri Lanka is still discovering the physical legacy of the conflict – graves and all – and attempting to confront it.

Cultural Context and Location Importance

Thambiluvil itself is a quiet coastal village with a rich cultural heritage. Predominantly Tamil and Hindu, it is renowned for its ancient temples and traditions. The village has long been a guardian of Tamil culture in the East, known for preserving folk arts and hosting the historic Sri Sivalinga Pillayar Temple festival. Generations of residents have lived and died here, and the public cemetery being excavated is adjacent to local shrines. This juxtaposition highlights a poignant reality: a place of reverence and routine burials was potentially used to hide victims of violence. The cultural significance of the site amplifies the community’s response. Locals are deeply invested in the excavation, both out of a desire for justice and because the idea of secret graves on sacred land is profoundly unsettling. For the Tamil community, burial grounds are hallowed space; discovering unmarked mass graves in them is a stark reminder of how the war violated even their most cherished cultural sanctums. The Thambiluvil dig has thus spurred reflection on the collective trauma Tamils faced. Families of the disappeared, who for years performed religious rites without knowing where their loved ones lay, now see tangible efforts to find answers. Community leaders and human rights activists have been observing the process, urging that any remains be handled with dignity and properly identified. There is also a broader cultural context of remembrance and accountability: across the North and East, Tamils hold vigils and demand proper memorials for mass grave sites. The excavation at Thambiluvil feeds into that narrative. It underscores the importance of preserving memory – not just of Tamil art and religion, but of the truths of the war. In recovering bones and personal effects (even something as simple as a child’s school bag or toy unearthed from a grave, as happened in Chemmani), investigators are also recovering pieces of Tamil history that were almost erased. Culturally, this initiative is helping transform a site of hidden horror into one of acknowledgement and mourning. The hope is that Thambiluvil cemetery, once just a local burial ground, will become a place where the truth of what happened in the Eastern Province is recognized – an essential step for the community’s healing and for Sri Lanka’s journey toward genuine post-war reconciliation.

     In solidarity,

     Wimal Navaratnam

     Human Rights Advocate | ABC Tamil Oli (ECOSOC)

      Email: tamilolicanada@gmail.com

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Sources: The details above are drawn from investigative reports and news coverage of the Thambiluvil case and related war-era grave excavations. Sri Lanka Brief notes that CID teams suspect a cemetery was used by Pillayan’s group to dump bodies of victims. Tamil media confirmed that a special inspection of Thambiluvil Cemetery was carried out by police in connection with these crimes. The probe follows Pillayan’s 2025 arrest for past murders and abductions, including the Eastern University VC’s disappearance. Thambiluvil’s cultural backdrop as a historic Tamil village in Ampara is documented in academic and travel sources. Further context on mass graves comes from parallel cases like the Chemmani excavation in Jaffna (19+ bodies found, including children) and statements by Tamil officials calling for transparent investigations. These sources collectively illustrate the purpose, findings, and significance of what is unfolding at Thambiluvil Cemetery.

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📘 Reader’s Note

The excavation at Thambiluvil Cemetery is more than an unfolding investigation—it is a poignant chapter in the search for truth, justice, and historical memory in Sri Lanka. As you read, please remember that each detail unearthed isn’t just forensic evidence—it could be someone’s father, mother, child, or friend. This report was created with care and humility, acknowledging the pain of families still waiting for answers. If this report moves you, let it be an invitation—to listen deeply, engage thoughtfully, and honor those who never came home.

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🧪 Methodology Used for Research

This report was compiled using a multi-source qualitative research approach, focused on ethical, factual accuracy and cultural sensitivity. The methodology includes:

• Literature & Media Review:
• News articles from regional and national outlets in Sri Lanka (e.g. Sri Lanka Brief, Tamil Guardian, Daily Mirror) covering the Thambiluvil excavation.
• Historical records of similar excavations (Chemmani, Mannar, Kokkuthoduvai) and related forensic investigations.
• Statements from Sri Lanka’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID), judicial medical officers, and human rights organizations (e.g. Amnesty International, UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights).
• Cultural and Historical Contextualization:
• Academic papers and anthropological studies on Tamil burial rites, local histories of Thambiluvil village, and cultural memory after war.
• Public petitions, civil society protests, and family advocacy records related to disappearances.
• Cross-Referencing & Verification:
• All claims were cross-verified with multiple independent sources where possible.
• Attention was paid to avoid speculative assertions and ensure consistency with known legal proceedings and timelines.
• APA Style Citations:
• Sources referenced with inline citations using the American Psychological Association (APA) format.
• Where available, links to original content or published reports are provided.
• Limitations:
• No primary fieldwork or interviews were conducted.
• Information is dependent on available public reporting and may evolve as new forensic findings are released.
• Not all sources were available in English; translations were used with care to preserve integrity.