The latest phase of excavation at the northern mass-grave site has brought the reported total to 454 sets of remains, including those of children.
Excavations at the Chemmani mass-grave site near Jaffna have recovered the remains of 454 people, according to an update published by Newswire.lk on 21 July.
Lawyer Ranitha Gnanarajah, who represents families affected by enforced disappearances, said the total was reached after 92 days of excavation conducted in three phases since May 2025. Six additional sets of remains were recovered on 20 July, while two of eight recently uncovered skeletons were identified as those of young children.
The identities of the dead, the period in which they were buried and the circumstances of their deaths remain under investigation. Earlier independent reporting on the site documented children’s belongings and highlighted the need for DNA identification, transparent forensic procedures and sustained judicial oversight.
The latest recovery deepens pressure on authorities to preserve evidence, maintain an auditable chain of custody and provide families of the missing with timely information as the excavation continues.
