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[INTERNATIONAL] · Sri Lanka · 3 sources

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Mass grave of 572 people discovered in northern Sri Lanka

Archaeologists in northern Sri Lanka have uncovered the skeletal remains of 572 people at a mass grave site in the Chemmani area of the Jaffna region. The discovery, which includes children and infants, was made after workers unearthing remains while attempting to extend a local cremation ground in February.

Believed to be the largest mass grave ever found in the country, the site has yielded personal artifacts such as bangles, a school bag, and a milk bottle. The discovery has reignited intense scrutiny regarding the thousands of people who disappeared during the Sri Lankan civil war, which lasted from 1983 to 2009.

Many in the Tamil community believe the grave contains victims of extrajudicial killings carried out during the conflict. Families of the disappeared are calling for thorough forensic investigations and justice, as the slow pace of the excavation has fueled protests and anger in the north.

Entities

Chemmani · Jaffna · Jeyaruby Jeyabalan · Sri Lankan Army · Tamil Tigers

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