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 Dura...