Sinhala forensic archaeology academic rejects BETA findings

[TamilNet, Sunday, 17 March 2019, 23:13 GMT]
The Hong Kong-based Asia Times on Friday said Forensic Archaeological Consultant Professor at the University of Kelaniya, Raj Somadeva, as vehemently rejecting the radiocarbon dating results obtained from Beta Analytic on the alleged samples from Mannar mass grave. “There is a non-compatibility between materials and artefacts we unearthed from the mass grave and the results the American laboratory have given us. Therefore, it is difficult to accept this carbon dating,” Somadeva was quoted as saying by the Asia Times.

The skeletal remains had been soaking in salt water for a long time, thus altering their chemical composition, Somadeva has told the paper.

The Asia Times also cited Judicial Medical Officer of Mannar District WRA Saminda Rajapaksa as saying that an official interpretation of the carbon dating findings was to be requested from Beta Analytic before 22 March when the Magistrate’s Court is set to discuss the next course of action in a meeting.

The Asia Times also cited informed sources as saying that the samples sent for analysis were ‘utterly contaminated’ and have led to the final results that have caused confusion among the investigators.

“From artifacts recovered from the site, the remains could not have been more than 30 years old, sources said, meaning that the origins of the grave date back to the height of the island’s civil war,” the report further said.

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Sri Lanka mass grave excavation halted

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