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Lawyers for families of disappeared request further excavations of Mannar mass grave

Lawyers representing families of disappeared Tamils have filed an application in court, requesting further excavation of a mass grave that was unearthed in Mannar in December last year, reports BBC Tamil.

The remains of at least 80 people were excavated from the mass grave in Thirukketheeswaram, with many of the wounds discovered on the bodies believed to have been caused by gunshots. Both the Bishop of Mannar and the Tamil National Alliance called for an international investigation into the mass grave site.

The Sri Lankan courts approved the request for further excavations, and also ordered an affidavit from the Mannar regional chair person, who stated that there were no records of a cemetery in the area, to be produced before them.

See more from BBC Tamil here.

The mass grave was first discovered in December last year, when construction workers found two human skeletons whilst digging in Thirukketheeswaram. 

The following week, a further four skulls were unearthed, with more over subsequent weeks (see also here, here, here, herehere, here, here, and here), eventually totaling over 80 

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