UPDATE: July 22, 2025-Latest Excavation Discoveries and Human Tragedy
Chemmani‐Sinthupaththi Mass Grave: Latest Excavation Discoveries and Human Tragedy
Recent Excavation Discoveries (July 22, 2025) in Chemmani, Jaffna
Evidence of child victims. Among the skeletal remains
recovered was one labeled “S-25”, later confirmed to be a girl about
4–5 years old, found still carrying a little blue school bag and toys.
The bag, emblazoned with English alphabet letters, resembled those distributed
as humanitarian aid to schoolchildren in war-torn areas. At least two other
skeletons (forensically labeled S-48 and S-56) exhibited
child-sized clothing fragments and bone structures similar to the young girl,
strongly suggesting they too were juveniles. Even more harrowing, forensic
reports indicate the grave holds remains of infants – in fact, at least
three of the skeletons recovered so far are believed to be babies or toddlers,
one possibly less than a year old. Such findings mark the first time in this
excavation that the presence of infants has been documented, adding a heartbreaking
dimension to what was already a grim investigation.
Personal belongings unearthed. Excavators have
uncovered not only bones but also a haunting array of personal artifacts
buried alongside the bodies, which help paint a picture of the victims’
identities and last moments. These items, now secured as forensic evidence,
include:
- A small
blue cloth schoolbag with alphabetical letters, found near a child’s
skeleton. This satchel, and a similar blue book bag recovered
earlier, held a few children’s toys – poignant clues that a young
student was among the dead. One toy recovered was described as a doll
or plaything, discovered entangled in a child’s remains. Another was a
single small sandal, presumably belonging to a child, found next to
the satchel. These remnants of childhood amid the bones have “intensified
concerns that some of the victims may have been children”.
- Fragments
of clothing and footwear from multiple victims. For example, a dress,
a pair of slippers, and pieces of fabric thought to be from
garments were retrieved from one 11-foot-long burial trench. Investigators
also found glass bangles (bracelets) near the skeleton of a female
victim and a pair of spectacles (eyeglasses) in another pit. The
clothing remnants and personal items were notably not found on most
of the bodies themselves – many skeletons were discovered nude or
stripped of belongings, indicating the perpetrators may have removed
victims’ clothing before burial.
- Miscellaneous
everyday objects that hint at the victims’ lives. A cloth pouch or
bag was unearthed with one set of remains, likely used by a victim to
carry personal effects. In another pit, a plastic identity card cover
and pieces of rubber tires were reportedly found intermingled with
bones (details noted by local observers), suggesting improvised covering
or attempts to conceal the graves. Each object has been carefully
catalogued and placed under judicial custody, as they may serve as critical
evidence of the victims’ identities or the circumstances of their death.
Condition of the mass graves. The manner in which
these remains were found provides important clues to the nature of the
killings. The Chemmani graves were not orderly burials at all – they were mass
disposal sites where bodies appear to have been dumped haphazardly.
Forensic teams observed that many skeletons were intertwined and tightly
interwoven together in the soil, making it challenging to separate
individual bodies during exhumation. In one marked patch, five skulls along
with partial skeletal remains were discovered clustered in a single pit,
indicating multiple people were buried in one shallow grave. Overall, the
remains were found in a disordered, disturbed state, rather than neatly
interred in coffins or defined graves. This disarray raised concerns that the
site may have been tampered with in the past or that the burials were done in
great haste and secrecy. Notably, no coffins, burial shrouds, or typical
funerary markers were present – the bodies had simply been concealed under
earth in an irregular pattern, often at unusual angles. Many skeletons lacked
any clothing on them, again suggesting the victims were buried naked or that
their attire disintegrated over time in the shallow graves. These facts
strongly indicate that the Chemmani site was not a normal cemetery graveyard,
but rather a crime scene of clandestine burials. Indeed, forensic
archaeologist Prof. Somadeva reported to the court that the skeletal remains “do
not belong to natural or traditional burials” – the site, he emphasized,
bears “clear evidence of criminal activity” and extrajudicial disposal
of bodies.
All excavations have been conducted under strict judicial oversight to preserve the integrity of evidence. The Jaffna Magistrate’s Court formally designated the Chemmani burial ground as a crime scene, restricting public access due to the sensitive nature of the findings. Only a limited roster of local lawyers and forensic personnel are allowed near the pits, and photography is tightly controlled by court order to prevent circulation of grisly images or misinformation. Each set of remains is carefully tagged and removed under the supervision of the Judicial Medical Officer (JMO), then stored for forensic examination and possible identification. By late July, over 70 human skeletons from Chemmani (including those found in the 1990s and the current dig) have been placed under the custody of the JMO for analysis. Soil samples from the graves have also been collected – experts from the Industrial Technology Institute (ITI) in Colombo are conducting soil analysis and radiocarbon dating tests, which may help determine the time period of the burials and any chemical signs of how the victims were killed. These meticulous efforts reflect how the Chemmani excavation has transitioned from a mere archaeological dig into a full-fledged forensic investigation of a wartime atrocity.
Significance of the Findings and War Crimes Context
The discoveries at Chemmani are far more than archaeological
curiosities – they carry enormous forensic, legal, and historical
significance for Sri Lanka. Each skeleton and artifact unearthed is a piece
of evidence in understanding what happened during one of the darkest chapters
of the country’s civil war. The findings corroborate long-standing allegations
of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings of Tamil civilians
in the Jaffna peninsula during the 1990s. In effect, the Chemmani mass grave is
becoming a crucial crime scene that may help hold perpetrators accountable
after nearly three decades of impunity.
Confirmation of war crime allegations. The mass
grave’s contents validate chilling claims first made in 1998 by a Sri Lankan
Army soldier-turned-whistleblower. During the highly publicized trial for the
rape and murder of schoolgirl Krishanthi Kumaraswamy, Army Lance Corporal
Somaratne Rajapakse stunned the court by testifying that “300 to 400”
Tamil civilians who went missing in 1995–1996 (after the military recaptured
Jaffna from the LTTE) had been executed and buried in mass graves near
Chemmani. His revelations, coming under oath in a courtroom, gave credence
to what Tamil families had been saying all along – that many of those who
“disappeared” in the late 90s were in fact secretly killed. International
pressure forced a preliminary excavation of the site in 1999, which unearthed
15 skeletons and confirmed at least two were individuals who had vanished
in 1996. Though some army personnel were arrested and charged at the time, the
investigation soon stalled, no comprehensive prosecutions occurred, and Chemmani
faded from headlines for the next 20+ years. The renewed excavations in 2025
are effectively picking up the trail of evidence left cold since 1999.
The fact that dozens upon dozens of remains are now being recovered – including
women and children – corroborates Rajapakse’s story and the many
eyewitness accounts of mass detention and murder from that period. For the
first time, this long-buried crime is yielding tangible proof (bones, personal
effects, forensic data) that can be examined in a court of law. Prof.
Somadeva’s interim report to the Jaffna Magistrate has already noted that the
Chemmani site contains the remains of people “not buried in a conventional
manner,” indicating foul play, and that further investigation is urgently
needed to uncover the full extent of what he called a “clear crime”.
Legal and forensic process. The Chemmani findings
have triggered a formal legal process within Sri Lanka’s justice system, which
is significant given the country’s patchy record on addressing war crimes. The
dig is occurring under continuous judicial supervision, and the Magistrate’s
Court in Jaffna is holding regular hearings to review progress. On 15 July
2025, forensic experts presented detailed reports to the court: Prof. Raj
Somadeva outlined evidence of criminal burials, and Dr. Pranavan Selliah (JMO)
testified about the child’s skeleton with the schoolbag, identifying it as a
young girl. The court has scheduled further hearings – the next on 6 August
2025 – to consider comprehensive forensic findings and determine next steps
in the investigation. Declaring the site a crime scene means that eventually a criminal
case could be built if specific perpetrators can be identified (either
living suspects or posthumous responsibility of military units). Already, the
evidence is being handled with prosecutorial standards: skeletons are numbered
and stored, and items collected are treated as exhibits under police guard.
This procedure is critical to maintain chain-of-custody if the findings lead to
indictments. Northern Sri Lankan lawyers, including those from the Jaffna Bar
Association, have been closely observing the exhumations and pushing for the re-opening
of old disappearance cases in light of the new evidence. Notably, 45 habeas
corpus petitions that had been filed back in 2004 for missing persons around
Jaffna (and later dismissed) are now being revived by families, hoping the mass
grave will provide answers about their relatives’ fates. The Chemmani
discoveries could thus directly bolster legal efforts to deliver long-delayed
justice for specific incidents from 1996–97.
Impetus for accountability and reform. The uncovering
of a mass grave of this scale – with children’s skeletons and personal
effects in a government-controlled zone – has intensified national and
international demands for accountability. Sri Lanka’s current government, led
by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake of the National People’s Power (NPP)
coalition, has publicly pledged to pursue justice for wartime abuses and
enforced disappearances. President Dissanayake’s administration, which came to
power on promises of addressing past atrocities, even facilitated a visit by
the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to the Chemmani site. In
late June, UN High Commissioner Volker Türk flew to Jaffna and toured
the Chemmani excavation; he described the experience as “very emotional”
and “haunting,” noting he met mothers still searching for loved ones who
vanished in the 90s. Türk urged that the forensic investigation be
independent and rigorous, so that truth could emerge and families could
find closure. His high-profile visit – including a gathering of relatives of
the disappeared and civil society at the site – put a global spotlight on
Chemmani and underscored the grave’s importance as evidence of potential war
crimes. The High Commissioner’s involvement also bolsters calls for some
form of international oversight or assistance in the investigation, to
ensure credibility. Tamil victims’ groups and human rights organizations have
consistently echoed this: given Sri Lanka’s history of stalled probes, they are
demanding an international, transparent, and independent mechanism to
supervise the Chemmani case. Groups like Amnesty International have
specifically urged Sri Lankan authorities to meet international standards
in handling the mass grave. In a statement in June, Amnesty International
called for the excavation to be properly resourced, for families and the media
to have access (i.e. transparency), and for authorities to secure the
site against any interference. These safeguards, Amnesty argued, are necessary
to build trust in the process and “ensure the integrity of the site” so that no
evidence is lost.
Despite the government’s promises, many observers remain
cautious. Sri Lanka has seen previous administrations initiate inquiries into
past abuses, only for political will to fade and justice to be deferred. A
youth activist at a recent Colombo protest noted that while leaders often vow
to address war crimes, “justice has never been served for these crimes”
– the Chemmani excavations cannot be meaningful if they end at simply counting
bodies without prosecuting those responsible. There are also concerns about
resources: although Rs. 12 million was budgeted by the government for the
Chemmani investigation, officials report that only a fraction of the funds had
been released by July, causing logistical constraints on the excavation teams.
This shortfall caused a temporary suspension of work in early July, and
activists worry it could signal waning commitment. Nonetheless, the sheer scale
of what has been uncovered at Chemmani is generating renewed pressure on the
Sri Lankan state. The Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK), the main
Tamil political party, bluntly told President Dissanayake in a letter that the
Chemmani mass grave is “clear evidence of war crimes” and even “a
genocidal campaign against Tamils”, demanding concrete action and
international cooperation to pursue the truth. In sum, the Chemmani findings
are not only validating old allegations but are also serving as a catalyst for
Sri Lankan society – and the world – to confront the unresolved atrocities
of the civil war. They are a test of the country’s willingness to reckon with
its past. As one commentary put it, these excavations are “uncovering far
more than skeletal remains — they are exposing long-buried trauma” and
forcing a long-delayed national reckoning. The coming months will be pivotal in
determining whether this evidence leads to genuine accountability or once again
slips into silence.
Broader Implications as a Human Tragedy
Beyond the forensic and legal realm, the Chemmani mass grave
stands as a stark symbol of Sri Lanka’s human tragedy. Each set of bones being
lifted from the earth represents a life that was brutally cut short and
a family’s agony that has stretched on for decades. The ongoing discoveries
have reopened old wounds in the community, even as they provide the first real
hope of closure for families of the missing.
Faces of the disappeared. The remains in Chemmani are
not anonymous artifacts – they were fathers, mothers, sons and daughters. For
nearly 30 years, families of the disappeared in Jaffna have been living in
limbo, not knowing whether their loved ones were alive or dead. The unearthing
of skeletons, including children and infants, confirms their worst fears while
also ending the uncertainty. It is a profoundly bittersweet development. One
moving account comes from High Commissioner Volker Türk’s visit: he spoke with
a Tamil woman who has been searching for her nephew since the mid-1990s, never
learning his fate. Standing by the freshly dug pits of Chemmani, she and many
others now suspect these graves may hold their lost relatives. “This is
always the pain and suffering... when you speak to people who don’t know what
happened to their loved ones,” Türk reflected, highlighting how the
anguish of not knowing has haunted thousands of Sri Lankan families. For
those gathered at the Chemmani site, seeing the evidence emerge from the ground
– even if it is just skeletal fragments – validates their grief. As bodies are
found, families have started holding vigils at the excavation site,
lighting a symbolic “eternal flame” in memory of the victims and to
demand that their stories not be forgotten again. Many have filed fresh
petitions in court (or revived old ones) aiming to formally identify the
remains and officially acknowledge these deaths. Each identification will be a
heartbreaking but important milestone: heartbreaking because it confirms a
loved one was murdered, important because it allows proper mourning and the
chance to perform final rites. Until now, parents and spouses had only photos
and fading hopes; soon they may have bones to bury with dignity. As one Tamil
commentator observed, the silence of the past decades was “not peace – it
was prolonged agony” for these families. The Chemmani exhumations, while
painful, are at last ending that silence.
The innocence of the victims. Perhaps the most
gut-wrenching aspect of Chemmani is the revelation that children were among
the murdered. The discovery of a little girl’s skeleton with her schoolbag
and the tiny bones of infants has shocked the conscience of the nation. Even in
a war rife with atrocities, the killing and secret burial of children stands
out as exceptionally cruel. Images from the site – such as rescuers gently
lifting miniature skulls and fragile rib bones from the dirt – are
almost unbearable to see. They drive home the true horror of the crime: entire
families may have been wiped out. In the original Chemmani revelation in
1998, it was the heinous rape-murder of a 18-year-old schoolgirl
(Krishanthi) and the killing of her mother, brother, and neighbor (who went
looking for her) that led to the uncovering of this mass grave. That case
showed how even children and women trying to live ordinary lives (taking exams,
etc.) became victims of unspeakable brutality. The new findings amplify that
truth on a larger scale. Sri Lankan society is being confronted with physical
proof that young teens, toddlers, and perhaps entire households, were
“disappeared” during the conflict. As one teacher who joined a recent protest
lamented: “What is particularly heartbreaking about the Chemmani mass grave
is that among the victims were students, innocent children who had no role in
war or political conflict”. She said as a teacher she “cannot remain
silent when even my students are not spared”. This outpouring of sorrow and
outrage from educators and elders underscores how Chemmani is perceived as a humanitarian
atrocity – a scene of carnage that claimed innocents, not combatants. The
pitiful belongings recovered (a toy doll, a child’s slipper) poignantly
humanize the victims, reminding all that these were beloved sons and daughters.
As Groundviews magazine described, the Chemmani graves hold “the buried
echoes of an entire generation – names never recorded, stories never told,
justice never served”. Now those echoes are rising to the surface,
demanding to be heard.
National outrage and solidarity. The Chemmani
tragedy, once suppressed and kept to the shadows of the north, is now
resonating across Sri Lanka. There have been vigils and demonstrations
not only in Jaffna but also in the capital Colombo, calling attention to all
wartime mass graves. On 17 July 2025, human rights activists, families of the
disappeared, and concerned citizens from the south gathered in Colombo Fort,
holding signs and photos of missing persons and demanding justice for
Chemmani’s victims. Notably, this movement has cut across ethnic and regional
lines. Sinhalese activists from leftist groups and trade unions stood in
solidarity with Tamil families in these protests. They emphasize that seeking
truth about Chemmani is a matter of basic human rights and national conscience,
not just an isolated Tamil issue. “Justice is not just about excavating a
grave and counting bodies. It’s about accountability,” one Sinhalese youth
activist said at the Colombo rally. Another protester, the head of a teachers’
union, pointed out that 22 other mass graves have been identified across
Sri Lanka from past atrocities – “every one of them demands justice” – and that
Chemmani is a test of the country’s political will to confront all such cases.
This growing public awareness is crucial. For years, the disappearance of Tamil
civilians in places like Chemmani was a topic relegated to the sidelines, often
met with denial or indifference by the broader population. Now, confronted with
undeniable evidence of mass murder, more Sri Lankans are acknowledging the collective
trauma and pressing the state to come clean. Many see this as a necessary
step toward true reconciliation after the civil war. As one observer put it, Chemmani
is not an isolated tragedy; it is part of a pattern that “crisscrosses
the northern and eastern provinces” – from Chemmani to places like Mannar,
where over 300 skeletons were unearthed in a mass grave in 2018. Recognizing
this pattern is forcing a national conversation on the value of every
Sri Lankan life, Tamil or otherwise, and on the imperative to memorialize and
seek accountability for the innocents who perished.
Lingering trauma and the need for closure. While the
excavations are a step forward, they also reopen traumatic memories for
survivors. Many Tamil families in Jaffna are reliving the dreadful days of
1996, when their relatives were taken away at army checkpoints or from their
homes and never seen again. Seeing the bones being exhumed brings confirmation
of what likely happened, but also the pain of imagining how their loved ones
suffered. Psychologists and activists note that this process must be accompanied
by compassion and support for the families. There is anger, too – anger that it
took so long for these graves to be investigated, and that justice was
delayed for decades. Had the Chemmani allegations been fully pursued in
1999, some perpetrators might have been convicted and some truth established
much earlier. Instead, families spent years knocking on doors and conducting
hunger strikes and marches for the missing. The Trust in the system is
badly broken, and healing it will require genuine truth-telling and
accountability. One positive development is that, by involving families
(through lawyers and observation) and by publicizing the process, the current
investigation is giving families a sense of participation in uncovering the
truth. Every time remains are identified, relatives will at least have the
solace of knowing the fate of their kin, ending the cruel limbo of not knowing.
For the Tamil community, Chemmani has also become a symbol
of resistance and remembrance. Despite risks, Tamil journalists have
bravely reported on the excavations (in a country deemed dangerous for media)
to ensure the story is told. Civic groups in Jaffna have kept a constant watch
at the site, with banners and the burning flame, to insist that these victims
are not forgotten again. There is a conscious effort to document every finding
– not just for legal purposes, but to eventually build a historical record or
memorial. Memorialization is a key part of addressing the human tragedy. In the
past, mass graves of Tamil civilians were swept under the rug, denying families
even the recognition of their loss. Now, with Chemmani, there is talk of
preserving the site or at least commemorating the victims once the forensic
work is done. Such actions would help satisfy the survivors’ psychological need
for acknowledgment. As one article noted, “some truths are not uncovered by
force – they rise slowly, persistently, from the ground because the dead cannot
remain forgotten forever”. The Chemmani gravesite, once a silent plot of
earth, is now speaking volumes about the suffering endured by civilians. Each
skull, each child’s toy, is a testament to lives lost and a reminder of the human
cost of conflict.
In conclusion, the ongoing revelations at the
Chemmani–Sinthupaththi mass grave represent both a major development in Sri
Lanka’s pursuit of post-war justice and a profoundly tragic exposure of past
horrors. The details of the discoveries – from eight skeletons found in
one day to the heart-rending evidence of young children among the dead – have
shocked the nation and the world. The significance of these findings
lies in their ability to finally confirm long-denied crimes and potentially
hold perpetrators accountable, while also challenging Sri Lanka to uphold the
rule of law and international human rights standards. But above all, the
Chemmani mass grave is a human tragedy. It encapsulates the anguish of
hundreds of families who lost loved ones to violence, the innocence of the
children who became victims, and the decades of grief and unanswered questions.
Now that the earth in Jaffna is yielding its terrible secrets, Sri Lankan
society is confronted with a simple moral truth: these bones belong to fellow
human beings who deserved life and dignity. As the country grapples with
this truth, the hope is that it will lead to remembrance, healing, and a
resolve that such atrocities never recur. The dead of Chemmani are finally
having their say, and their story is one Sri Lanka must heed – a story of loss,
of love for those lost, and the unwavering quest for justice in their name.
Each exhumed skeleton is a silent witness, urging the living to ensure that
their fate, and the lessons from it, are never buried again.
📌 Disclaimer
This document contains detailed information on mass graves discovered in Sri Lanka, particularly at Chemmani–Sinthupaththi, and includes forensic developments, eyewitness accounts, historical analysis, and legal assessments as of July 2025. It is intended solely for educational, human rights advocacy, and awareness purposes.
While every effort has been made to ensure factual accuracy based on judicial reports, news sources, and expert testimony, the situation is ongoing and new findings may emerge. Statements reflecting alleged war crimes, enforced disappearances, and governmental responsibility are based on survivor claims, civil society investigations, and international human rights commentary. These do not constitute formal legal conclusions. Individuals named or implicated are presumed innocent until proven guilty through a recognized judicial process. Readers are advised to consult original court documents, forensic records, and official UN reports for further verification and context.
✍️ Editor’s Note: A Call for Global Justice and Tamil Unity
"The earth in Chemmani has spoken once again — and its truth is too heavy to ignore".- Wimal
As the skeletal remains of children, women, and men emerge from shallow soil in Jaffna, we are reminded not only of a massacre long buried, but of a justice long denied. These are not just bones. They are stories, families, futures cut short, and the painful legacy of a people who have suffered in silence.
To the Tamil community: this moment demands more than mourning. It demands movement.
The evidence unearthed in Chemmani must become a lever — to unlock international investigations, secure independent forensic analysis, and bring perpetrators to justice under global human rights law. We call upon diaspora organizations, civil society leaders, and every Tamil with a voice to amplify the demand for accountability.
Lobby international bodies. Engage your local representatives. Mobilize at UN forums. Reach out to global media and humanitarian allies. Push for oversight and prosecution mechanisms that transcend Sri Lanka’s borders.
Our advocacy must be relentless. Our unity must be unwavering.
Let our silence no longer be a monument to grief — but a rallying cry for truth. From Chemmani to Geneva, Toronto to Tamil Nadu — let the world hear us say:
Justice buried is not justice denied. It is justice delayed. Now is the time to uncover it.
References
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Bone fragments believed to be those of a child found at Chemmani
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Child’s remains found in Sri Lanka’s Chemmani mass grave
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Child’s toy recovered from Chemmani mass grave as exhumations continue
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Remains of Tamil girl found with blue school bag and toy at Chemmani ...
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More skeletal remains, personal belongings unearthed at Chemmani mass ...
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The Story of Chemmani and the Graves That Refuse to Stay Buried
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Chemmani mass graves: Childrens’ skeletons suspected among them
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Chemmani mass grave excavation temporarily paused after recovery of 65 ...
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Remains of girl child among 65 skeletons unearthed at Sri Lanka's ...
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Amnesty presses Sri Lanka for Transparency in Chemmani Mass Grave Probe
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