'Chemmani graves' soldier treated

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 25 August 1998, 09:26 GMT]
The former Sri Lankan soldier, who said he could identify the Chemmani mass graves is expected to be released from hospital today following treatment for injuries he sustained when his prison guards attacked him.

Lance Corporal Somaratne Rajapakshe, who has convicted for the rape and murder of Krishanthi Kumaraswami, is reported to have been attacked by guards at Welikade prison on 21 August.

Rajapakshe made his revelations of the mass graves in Chemmani, saying the bodies of up to 400 people murdered by the Sri Lankan Army are buried there, whilst on trial for the rape and murder of Jaffna schoolgirl Krishanthi Kumaraswamy.

It is believed that Rajapakshe was attacked by Wlikade's prison guards, who are notoriously anti-Tamil, for 'betraying the Sinhala side' in the ethnic war.

The attack on Rajapakshe comes amidst widespread calls from human rights groups, including the government appointed Human Rights Commission, to excavate the alleged site for investigation.