The pit at a suspected mass grave site in Kurukkalmadam, Batticaloa, was closed on Friday after three days of excavation yielded no human remains or artefacts, the Office of Missing Persons (OMP) confirmed.
Excavation work began on Tuesday (March 30) under the supervision of Kaluwanchikudy Magistrate D. Pradeepan. This marks the first instance of a suspected mass grave being excavated following a civilian complaint in collaboration with the OMP.
“The sandy soil and the presence of water made excavation technically challenging, but the location was thoroughly investigated using archaeological excavation techniques,” the OMP, which monitored the process, stated.
The technical team included Judicial Medical Officers (JMOs) specializing in forensic anthropology, appointed by the Chief Judicial Medical Officer of Colombo, alongside officials from the Department of Archaeology and Scene of Crime Officers (SOCO). The team received support from the police throughout the operation.
OMP officials were present during the excavations, as were lawyers representing the complainants. On the first day, more than 50 family members of missing persons—who feared their loved ones could be buried at the site—attended, and families continued visiting the site over the following days.
The excavation followed an order issued on August 25 last year by former Magistrate J.B.A. Ranjithkumar under Article 12(d) of the Office on Missing Persons (Establishment, Administration and Discharge of Functions) Act, No. 14 of 2016. This provision allows the OMP to seek magistrate court authorization for excavations and exhumations at suspected grave sites.
A budget for seven days of excavation was prepared by the investigation team, submitted to the court, and funded by the Justice Ministry.
The Kurukkalmadam site was first identified based on a complaint in 2014. Specific locations were later pointed out by a witness, and in 2015, the court facilitated ground-penetrating radar examinations of these areas. Excavations were conducted based on these findings, and the OMP confirmed that investigations will continue to identify potential locations within the site.
