Gruesome find reveals new mass grave from Sri Lanka’s civil war

Experts in Sri Lanka have uncovered what they believe to be a mass grave for dozens of people, which would be the second largest unearthed since the end of the civil war in 2009.

The remains of more than 90 people were unearthed in the north-west former frontline town of Mannar.

There were no clothes or other items that could help forensic teams to identify the remains.

The 26-year war between the government and separatist Tamils killed at least 100,000 people – about 40,000 of whom died in the final 2009 battle.

A Sri Lankan court has ordered a full excavation of the site, a former co-operative wholesale depot near the town’s main bus terminal, the BBC reported.

Experts were notified when workers at the site reported human remains, found as they dug foundations for a building this year.

Prof Raj Somadeva, an archaeologist from the University of Kelaniya near Colombo said the remains of at least six children had been discovered, but there was still a large area to investigate and more bodies could be found.

Grave sites have been found across the country since the end of the war. However, this discovery brings back memories of Sri Lanka’s largest mass grave, found a short distance away in Thiruketheeswaram, a prominent Hindu temple.

The remains of 96 bodies were found in 2014 and four years on, there has been no confirmation of whose remains were found or who was responsible for the murders.

Rights groups say at least 20,000 people went missing during the conflict. Both Tamil and government forces are accused of widespread human rights abuses.

Under international pressure, Sri Lanka’s government set up the Office of the Missing Persons this year.

But a UN report this year concluded there was “little evidence” reforms to promote inclusiveness and justice had materialised after the country’s transition to a coalition government in 2015.