The mass grave discovered at Chemmani Siththupaththi in Jaffna has reportedly become the largest mass grave recorded in the Northern Province in recent history.
With the exhumation of skeletal remains belonging to 10 additional individuals during excavations conducted yesterday (15), the total number of human remains recovered from the site has risen to 351.
Previously, the mass grave discovered at the site of the former Sathosa building in Mannar, where the remains of 342 individuals were unearthed, was considered the largest mass grave identified in the Northern Province.
Attorney-at-Law V.K. Niranjan, appearing on behalf of the relatives of the disappeared, stated that by the conclusion of the 25th day of the sixth phase of the Chemmani excavations yesterday, skeletal remains corresponding to 360 individuals had been identified, of which the remains of 351 individuals had been exhumed.
The excavation process is being carried out under the direct supervision of Jaffna Magistrate S. Leninakumar by a team of experts, including Senior Professor of Archaeology Raj Kumar Somadeva of the University of Kelaniya and Consultant Judicial Medical Officer Dr. Sellaiah Piranavan of the University of Jaffna.
Since the commencement of the sixth phase of excavations on April 27, 2026, the remains of 112 individuals have been exhumed from the site, said Ada Derana reporter.
Several skeletal remains believed to belong to young children, along with a piece of gold jewellery and a number of coins, have also been recovered during the excavation process.
By the conclusion of the fifth phase of excavations on September 6, 2025, the remains of 239 individuals had been exhumed from the site.
All skeletal remains and artefacts recovered thus far are being securely maintained under the custody of Dr. Sellaiah Piranavan at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Jaffna, in accordance with orders issued by the Jaffna Magistrate’s Court.
Since the end of the armed conflict, several mass graves have been reported across the Northern Province.
In 2013, the remains of approximately 88 individuals were discovered in the Thiruketheeswaram area of Mannar.
Between 2018 and 2019, the remains of 342 individuals were unearthed at the site of the former Sathosa building in Mannar. However, subsequent carbon-dating analysis conducted by a laboratory in the United States determined that the remains dated from between 1450 and 1650 AD.
During 2023 and 2024, the remains of 52 individuals were exhumed in the Kokkuthoduvai area of Mullaitivu, with investigations indicating that they may date back to the period between 1994 and 1996.
Excavation activities at the Chemmani mass grave, which came to light following the Kokkuthoduvai investigations, are continuing, said Ada Derana reporter.
