Police to investigate mass graves

[TamilNet, Saturday, 01 August 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Police officials from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) will visit the alleged 'Chemmani mass graves' on August 4 along with Sri Lankan Army copral Somaratne Rajapakse, the first accused in the rape and murder case of Krishanthi Kumaraswamy said sources.

The CID has recorded a statement from Rajapakse and the Attorney General's office has granted permission to take him to Chemmani, the sources said.

Meanwhile, the Human Rights Commission (HRC) which has independently recorded a statement from Rajapakse on July 23 is expected to visit the site with forensic experts from the Colombo University, the sources said.

Copral Rajapakse who has been sentenced to death revealed in the courts that between 300 and 400 Tamils who were tortured to death in the Army custody have been buried in Chemmani.

Meanwhile Minister of Cultural and Religious Affairs Mr. Lakshman Jeyakody who is also a member of the newly formed anti harassment committee said that the commission has received 40 complaints since it began functioning two weeks ago.

He said that 23 of the complaints were from Colombo area, while the rest were from various parts of the island.

The commission has not received any complaints from Jaffna, he said.

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