Investigators find another skeleton

[TamilNet, Monday, 13 September 1999, 10:01 GMT]
Investigators found a finger bone and a red hat while removing the upper soil at a depth of 1.5 feet in the general area near the Chemmani junction Sri Lanka Army checkpoint today. The skeleton of a man was found when the spot was dug further.

Geologists who tested the second spot near the Chemmani SLA checkpoint identified by ex-corporal Somaratna Rajapaksha, the key witness in the investigation into the mass graves at Chemmani, told the judge there was no indication that the soil had been disturbed.

The judge, however, told the investigators to dig the site because it was pointed out by the key witness.

Meanwhile, the lawyers representing the interests of the Missing Persons Guardian Association (Jaffna) informed the Judge Manikkavasagam Ilancheliyan that workers at the Chemmani saltern had told them that they (the workers) had found several bunkers around the saltern bed filled up in March 1997.

The judge therefore instructed the investigators to dig the places shown by the Chemmani saltern workers.