In the Chammani area, near Jaffna in Sri Lanka, 582 skeletons were discovered during excavations of a mass grave, including the remains of infants and children. According to media reports, these remains may belong to citizens who disappeared during the civil war in Sri Lanka.
In addition to the skeletons, toys, milk bottles, school bags, shoes, and bracelets were found during the excavations. Among the discovered remains was one whose hands were tied to their chest.
Suspicions that Chammani is a mass grave site have existed since 1998. At that time, a case against a Sinhalese soldier accused of raping and killing a schoolgirl was under review. During the investigation, the soldier claimed that 300–400 Tamils held in army custody were killed and buried in Chammani.
Following this, directives were issued in 1999 to conduct excavations, which resulted in the discovery of 15 skeletons. A state investigation showed signs of serious injuries on 10 of these skeletons, but the investigation was later suspended.
Last year, about 240 human skeletons were also found in Chammani. A new excavation campaign began when human remains were found near a Hindu cemetery during construction work. According to a report, the Sri Lankan government allocated about 6.2 million rupees for the mass grave excavation.
It should be noted that the civil war in Sri Lanka began in 1983 between the government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The LTTE demanded the creation of a separate Tamil state. It is estimated that over one hundred thousand people died in this conflict, which lasted about 26 years. The war ended in 2009 when the Sri Lankan army defeated the LTTE. Nevertheless, a large number of people, mainly from the Tamil community, disappeared without a trace during this period.
Sri Lankan security forces are regularly accused of killings, abductions, and other serious human rights violations against Tamil citizens. At the same time, the LTTE is also accused of killings, abductions, rapes, and other acts of violence.
The Chammani area in Jaffna was under the control of the Sri Lankan army from 1995 until the end of the war. Now, after long checks and delays in excavations, the discovered skeletons once again cast doubt on the events that took place during the civil war in Sri Lanka.