In a mass grave accidentally discovered during the expansion of a cemetery in northern Sri Lanka, human remains belonging to 572 people have been identified. Families who have been trying to learn the fate of their loved ones who went missing during the decades-long civil war in the region are demanding justice.
“Elchi” reports that in February of last year, workers digging to expand a crematorium site in the Chemmani area of the Jaffna region discovered human remains.
The third phase of the excavation, which began after the discovery was reported, concluded in August, resulting in the recovery of skeletal remains belonging to 572 people, including children and infants.
Personal items belonging to the deceased—such as bracelets, school bags, and baby feeding bottles—were also found.
This discovery is considered the largest mass grave ever found in Sri Lanka.
Bitter toll of the civil war and the missing
The civil war that tore the country apart between 1983 and 2009 was fought between the “Tamil Tigers” guerrillas and the government, which was dominated by the Sinhalese. The 26-year conflict resulted in the loss of approximately 100,000 lives, and 23,000 people, mostly Tamils, went missing.
After taking control of the Jaffna Peninsula in 1995, the army declared the area a high-security zone. Although security forces have been held responsible for the disappearance of thousands of civilians during that period, successive governments have denied these allegations.
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