Investigators find more in Jaffna hospital grave

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 03 October 2001, 14:49 GMT]
Forensic investigators found more human skeletal remains in a pit dug near the mortuary of the Jaffna Teaching Hospital Wednesday. Medical-legal sources said that the bones appeared to be mostly those of young persons. Bones and teeth that were found in the pit today were taken in three boxes for further forensic examination. The Jaffna courts ordered an investigation after construction workers of the Jaffna Municipal Council who were digging at the site came upon human bones and a saree on 18 September.

Hospital officials stopped the work and informed the Police, army and the Jaffna district judge of the discovery. The site was occupied by the headquarters of the 51-2 Brigade of the SLA from 1995 until August this year.

The Jaffna district judge directed the Police on 20 September to investigate the gravesite with the assistance of forensic experts.

Accordingly Dr. P.R Ruwanpura Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) of the Karapitiya hospital in the Karapitiyia Hospital in the Galle district and Assistant JMOs Dr. S. Fernando and Dr. Dayananda Samaraweera investigated the site from 11.30 a.m. Wednesday morning.

The Jaffna district judge Mr E.R. T Vignarajah and the Officer in Charge of the Crime Detection Bureau of the Police at Kankesanthurai Mr. B.M Premarathna were present at the site during the excavation.

The skeletal remains would be taken to Colombo for examination, court sources said.