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Chemmani Mass Grave Excavation Phase 3 Day 39 — News Report

Date: 21 July 2026 Location: Chemmani, Jaffna District, Sri Lanka

Summary: Under the supervision of the Jaffna Magistrate’s Court, excavation teams on Day 39 of Phase 3 cleaned and identified 13 additional human skeletons. With today’s work the cumulative number of skeletons cleaned and identified across all three phases is 467, and 444 skeletons have been fully exhumed. A high‑level European Union delegation of eight members is scheduled to visit the site tomorrow, 22 July at 9:00 a.m., following court permission granted after a motion by the Office on Missing Persons.

Key Developments

• New recoveries: Excavation teams documented and cleaned 13 more skeletons during Day 39 of Phase 3. Work continues under judicial oversight.
• Updated totals: The excavation programme now reports 467 skeletons cleaned and identified in total across Phases 1–3, with 444 fully exhumed and processed to date.
• International observation: An eight‑member EU delegation will visit the site on 22 July at 9:00 a.m. after the Jaffna Magistrate’s Court granted access following a motion filed by the Office on Missing Persons.

Forensic and Judicial Context

The excavations are being conducted under court supervision, with forensic teams following procedures for exhumation, documentation, and chain‑of‑custody. The Office on Missing Persons sought judicial permission for international observers to attend, reflecting the sensitivity of the site and the political importance attached to independent monitoring. The presence of an EU delegation signals heightened international attention to the ongoing forensic process.

Significance and Wider Implications

Chemmani remains one of the most politically charged forensic sites in Sri Lanka’s post‑war landscape. Renewed excavations and the steadily increasing number of recovered remains have intensified calls from victims’ families, civil society, and some political actors for transparent, independent investigations and for findings to feed into credible accountability processes. The scheduled EU visit is likely to amplify international scrutiny and could influence calls for technical assistance or independent oversight.

Current Operational Status

Item	Count
Skeletons cleaned and identified across Phases 1–3	467
Skeletons fully exhumed and processed	444
Skeletons recovered on Day 39	13
EU delegation members visiting site 22 July	8

Next Steps and Expectations

• Site work: Excavations and forensic processing will continue under magistrate supervision.
• International engagement: The EU delegation’s visit may include observation of excavation procedures and meetings with judicial or investigative authorities.
• Accountability pathway: Families and advocacy groups will press for the forensic evidence to be used in transparent investigations; however, formal prosecutions or judicial outcomes have not been announced in connection with these recent recoveries.

Note: This report summarises the latest operational figures and scheduled developments at the Chemmani excavation site. Please confirm details with official court releases, the Office on Missing Persons, or reputable news outlets for the most current and authoritative information.

 

     In solidarity,

     Wimal Navaratnam

     Human Rights Defender |Independent Researcher | ABC Tamil Oli              (ECOSOC)

      Email: tamilolicanada@gmail.com

Intended audience and use Audience: Policymakers, international legal bodies, human rights investigators, forensic researchers, advocacy organizations, and affected communities. 

Use: Executive Summary and timeline for rapid briefing; consolidated legal framework for legal assessment; appendices for source verification and methodological transparency.