Massacre grave unearthed in Batticaloa

A mass grave, containing skeletons bearing gunshot wounds, has been discovered Wednesday morning at Paalameenmeadu, 6 km north of Batticaloa city, near a Tsunami resettlement. The grave was found after the IDPs, who were engaged in digging wells near their camp, unearthed body parts in one of the wells last week. At least 32 skeleton-parts have been recovered with cloths since 9:30 a.m., when Judge B. Ramakannan from Batticaloa visited the massacre site with medical staff and the Police. The site, located 1.5 km from a Sri Lankan military post, has been under Sri Lanka Army (SLA) control for years.

Emptied rounds were also located from the mass grave, according to initial reports, which alluded that the killings could have taken place 3 years ago. However, police said it was too early to give any indication on the number of bodies or the period when the massacre has taken place.

Both male and female clothes have been recovered in the massacre grave.

Tsunami affected refugees from Moothoor were settled at the site two years ago.