Workers Came Across Human Remains — and Unearthed a Mass Grave of 572 People
JAFFNA, SRI LANKA — September 21, 2026

What began as construction work to expand a cremation ground in northern Sri Lanka has led to the discovery of one of the country’s largest known mass graves.

Workers digging at Chemmani, in the Jaffna region, came across human remains in February, prompting authorities to begin a major archaeological excavation.

By August, archaeologists had identified the skeletal remains of 572 people, including children and infants. Personal items found among the remains included bangles, a school bag and a baby’s milk bottle.

Discovery at Chemmani
The excavation was carried out in several phases, with the latest phase lasting more than 100 days.

By August 18, researchers had identified 572 sets of human remains. The number increased steadily throughout the excavation, with additional remains continuing to be uncovered near the main site.

The discovery is particularly significant because Chemmani has long been associated with allegations about people who disappeared during Sri Lanka’s decades-long civil war.

Families Searching for Missing Relatives
Sri Lanka’s civil war lasted from 1983 until 2009 and left thousands of people missing.

For families whose relatives disappeared during the conflict, the Chemmani excavation has raised hopes that forensic testing could eventually provide answers about what happened to them.

One of those families is that of Jeyaruby Jeyabalan, whose father, K

andaiah Jayapalan, disappeared in 1996 after he was reportedly taken

at a checkpoint near the Chemmani area.

Other families have also visited the site hoping that DNA testing or perso

nal belongings recovered from the graves could help identify their missing relatives.

Previous Claims About a Mass Grave

The Chemmani area had previously been linked to allegations of a large burial site.

In the late 1990s, a soldier convicted in connection with the rape and murder of Tamil teenager Krishanthi Kumaraswamy claimed in court that hundreds of people killed during the conflict had been buried in the area.

An earlier excavation following those allegations uncovered more than 10 skeletons.

The latest discovery has renewed interest in those earlier claims, although the circumstances surrounding the deaths of the 572 people have not yet been established.

Forensic Investigation Continues
The remains recovered from Chemmani are being held under court custody at the University of Jaffna’s Forensic Department.

Researchers are preparing an interim report for the court. Some samples are expected to undergo further analysis, including testing that could help determine the age of the remains.

DNA testing will also be required before individual victims can potentially be identified and matched with families searching for missing relatives.

Authorities have not yet established who the victims were or how they died.

Calls for Answers
The discovery has prompted renewed calls from families of missing people and human rights groups for a thorough investigation.

The Sri Lankan government has said it will continue supporting the excavation and forensic examination. Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara said authorities need to establish the identities of the victims and determine how they died.

The Sri Lankan military has rejected allegations that security forces were responsible for mass killings at the site, saying such allegations must be established through evidence and the courts.

The investigation is continuing, with researchers expected to submit further findings to the court as forensic work progresses.

Sources: BBC News; Tamil Guardian; Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka.