• De-miners find skeletal remains with uniforms

 Following several remains being discovered in Muhamalai in the Kilinochchi district, the Pallai Police Station said that they are conducting further investigations into the matter under the orders given by the Kilinochchi Magistrate’s Court.

A group of non-governmental organisation workers engaged in demining activities in Muhamalai in the Pallai Police area have reportedly discovered a uniform along with several human skeletons buried in the ground on Saturday (27).

They have reported the findings to the Pallai Police, under whose police division the site is located. The Kilinochchi Magistrate visited the site, conducted a magisterial inspection, and reportedly ordered further excavations to be carried out at the particular site on Monday (29).

Against this backdrop, the Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the Pallai Police Station told The Daily Morning yesterday (28) that further investigations will be carried out into the incident following the instructions given by the Kilinochchi Magistrate. Stating that the court is not functioning in the days to come, the OIC said that further instructions will be given once the court is commenced. He also said that the remains that were discovered were investigated by the Magistrate of Kilinochchi, and he noted that it is still premature to make comments regarding the history and the cause behind the particular site.

In addition, last year (2023), another mass grave site was accidentally discovered while municipal workers were laying pipelines for water supply along a 200-metre distance from the Kokkuthoduvai Maha Vidyalayam on the Kokkilai road while digging for such pipes. On 29 June, body parts and pieces of clothing were found, leading to a full-fledged excavation. The investigation into it also continued under the supervision of the Mullaitivu Magistrate’s Court.