The third phase of excavations at the Chemmani mass grave site has been postponed to January next year following the accumulation of rainwater, which has temporarily made further work impossible, officials said.
During a recent site inspection, authorities observed that heavy rains had caused significant flooding within the burial area, prompting the decision to reschedule the next phase of the investigation.
The team is now set to revisit the site on 19 January to reassess conditions and determine whether excavation work can safely resume.
To date, two phases of excavation have been completed, during which 240 sets of human skeletal remains were uncovered, with 239 exhumed for further analysis.
Despite funds already being allocated for the third phase, a team including Jaffna Magistrate S. Lenin Kumar, Judicial Medical Officer Dr. Selliah Pranavan, and Attorneys Niranjan and G. Rajitha conducted an on-site assessment to evaluate the situation before proceeding with the next stage of the investigation.