• Police, Archaeology and Govt. Analyst Depts. to attend discussion tmrw  

The Police Department said that the Mullaitivu Magistrate has called all relevant institutions tomorrow (13) to discuss future proceedings regarding the excavation of the Kokkuthoduvai mass grave in Mullaitivu, The Daily Morning learnt.

Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (11), Police Media Spokesperson Senior Superintendent of Police and attorney Nihal Thalduwa said that while the excavation of the mass grave is currently halted under the orders of the Mullaitivu Magistrate, it will however be commenced soon after the discussions.

Recently, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Parliamentarian President’s Counsel (PC) M.A. Sumanthiran said that the excavation of a supposed mass grave of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) cadres at Kokkuthoduvai was not being carried out according to international standards. In response to the allegations made by MP Sumanthiran, Thalduwa said that those allegations were made prematurely since no excavation had taken place so far. He said that the excavation is to commence in accordance with international standards and with the help of relevant authorities. He also said that the Archaeology Department and the Government Analyst’s Department are among the institutions which were called by the Mullaitivu Magistrate for tomorrow’s meeting.

However, speaking to The Daily Morning on Monday (10), the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security Viyani Gunathilaka said that he was unaware of the said mass grave-related incident and that he was not notified about the incident by any party.

The excavation of the alleged mass grave site commenced on 6 July following an order of the Mullaitivu Magistrate. On 29 June, officials of the National Water Supply and Drainage Board found human skeletal remains while carrying out a water-related project. The Police cordoned off the area and notified the Mullaitivu Magistrate’s Court of the discovery. Magistrate T. Saravanaraja ordered the Police to commence excavations on 6 July and was present at the site on the day. Representatives from the Police, the Criminal Investigations Department, the Archaeology Department and members of an organisation that agitates for the rights of those missing during the war, were present. Officers of the bomb disposal squad of the Special Task Force too were present.

Several attempts made by The Daily Morning to contact the Public Security Minister Tiran Alles, Justice Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe PC and Justice Ministry Secretary Wasantha Perera proved futile.