Two more skeletons in stadium grave

[TamilNet, Friday, 16 April 1999, 14:43 GMT]
Two more skeletons were found at the Duraiappa stadium grave in Jaffna when investigators resumed digging after the Tamil and Sinhala New Year. They have earlier found the skeletal parts and skeletons of 23 bodies, including those of two children.

Meanwhile the additional magistrate of Jaffna, S.A.E Ekanathan, postponed further excavation until May 16 on a request made by the Judicial Medical Officer (JMO), Dr.Sri Rajeswaran.

Dr.Sri Rajeswaran said in a report submitted to the additional magistrate that the grave site could be quite extensive.

He has requested assistance from forensic and soil experts, officials from the criminal investigation department and chemical analysts from Colombo to continue with the excavation.

The magistrate asked the Attorney General's Department to make arrangements for Prof. Niralalage Chandrasri (Forensic Medicine), Prof. K.A.Nandasene (Soil scince) and Ananda Mendis (Chemical Analysis) to be present in Jaffna on May 16.

He also ordered that the skeletons and skeletal remains be sent to Colombo for further analyses.

Chronology: