Excavations begin at yet another mass grave in Pungudutivu

Excavation work commenced at a mass grave in Pungudutivu this week after construction workers found several human skeletal remains during the construction of a warehouse.

Sri Lankan police officers and the local magistrate watched as forensic officers began their excavation, unearthing several human skeletal remains.

The construction workers are said to have suspended their work when realizing they had dug out a grave and informed the Sri Lankan police, who cordoned off the area. The excavation of the grave began after permission was granted from the magistrates courts.

The grave is also close to the Pungudutivu government hospital and nearby temple.

Excavation work is being carried out in the presence of departmental officials including District Court Magistrate, Court Judge Nalini Subakaran, and Forensic Officer C. Pranavan.

This is the second mass grave to be unearthed this week, after several human skeletal remains were uncovered in Muhamalai, alongside uniform believed to belong to an LTTE cadre. The grave was found as a group of non-governmental organization workers were engaged in demining activities.

Several similar graves have been uncovered across the North-East, but no one has ever been held accountable for the findings. Last month, the Sri Lankan government refused to fund further excavation work at another mass grave site in Kokkuthoduvai.