Sri Lankan police have been accused of failing to investigate the discovery of human bones in Chemmani, Jaffna.

The bones were discovered on Friday when excavation work for a water tank was underway in the area.

Although workers attempted to ignore the bones and continue construction, agitation by locals and journalists resulted in police being informed.

Jaffna Magistrates Court judge, S. Sathistharan went to the spot to investigate further and ordered for the soil to be examined and for next steps to be taken in the investigation.

However when the legal medical officer of Jaffna Teaching Hospital went to the location on Sunday, no senior police officials turned up, with just forensics and crime prevention officers at the scene.

The legal medical officer found that there was no excavation equipment at the site and no arrangements had been made for further excavation, resulting in the medical officer’s team having to postpone their own investigation.

Background

Human bones were found in the Nayanmarkaddu area of Kalviyankadu/Chemmani where excavation was taking place for water supply works.

The location used to be home to a Sri Lankan army bunker during the war.

Locals reported at the time that instead of attempting to identify and investigate the bones, excavation work for an underground water tank continued.

Journalists were initially barred from entering the vicinity to report on the discovery.

Police were only called after locals involved officials from Water Supply and Drainage Board and the village officer. Journalists were allowed in after this.