The human remains were found near the office of the Assistant Government Agent (AGA) in Neduntivy in Delft island by a group of workers when they dug the earth to put up a foundation for a generator room.

Acting Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) in Jaffna, Dr S Sivaruban, told BBC Tamil service that the skulls and skeletons were sent to the government analyst for forensic analysis.

The naked human remains were found only about one and half feet beneath the ground level, Dr Sivaruban told the BBC.

The area has been dug by a medical team on Friday in the presence of the acting JMO and Kayts magistrate Joy Mahadeva after the police were informed by the workers of their find.

Woman and young

The authorities suspect the human remains are about ten years old.

Dr Sivaruban said one skull is suspected to be of a woman adding that all the victims seem to be young people.

He said some more bones were recently found by a team of workers digging to construct a toilet about 10m away from the site but the workers have failed to inform the authorities.

The authorities say it is too early to conclusively decide the cause or the time of death.

In November, last year, authorities said they investigated unconfirmed reports of a mass grave in Mullaitivu.

Imprisoned Tamil Tiger rebels have told the investigators that the grave, about 15km from Kilinochchi, contained the remains of twenty-six army and navy personnel, allegedly taken prisoner and then shot dead by the LTTE.