Mass grave in Batticaloa

An employee of the international relief organisation 'ACTED' who were involved in digging a well in the area found the remains near a camp where displaced refugees have been housed.

The employee, Kanapathipullai Perimbarajah said that he and three others were hired by the ACTED to dig the well.

"We found remains of bodies and informed the Grama Niladari", he said.

Police said on Wednesday morning, the mass grave was uncovered in the presence of the Magistrate V. Ramakamalan and along with remains of human bodies, empty rounds, and damaged clothes were found.

There were also lengths of cloth that may have been used to tie up the victims before their death, police said.

Police said the evidence will be sent for forensic tests. As yet there's no indication as to the identity of the dead, or who their killers might have been.

However, police believe the remains may be around five years old.

Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said that it has been reported that the remains are about five years old and in that case this area was under the LTTE at that time and they were responsible.

Asked whether the massacres were carried out under Karuna's leadership in the east, Brigadier Nanayakkara said that the massacres had taken place five years ago and he is not in position to name individual persons.