Specimens from Sri Lanka's mass grave to be sent to U.S. lab for dating
February 27, 2014
Specimens of human remains found in a mass grave in northern Sri Lanka will be sent to a Beta Analytic archaeological laboratory in the U.S. to be dated, an official said on Thursday.
A special commission was appointed by Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa to investigate into the mass grave where 80 skeletons have been uncovered so far.
Former Supreme Court judge S. I. Imam heads the presidential commission and has outlined a plan to send samples on human remains to reporters.
"We are considering the option of sending samples to a laboratory in Florida," he said.
The commission has also commenced an inquiry where 66 witnesses gave evidence earlier this week.
The mass grave was identified in December when construction workers were digging the ground. The criminal investigation department is investigating the discovery and there is suspicion the remains may be of people killed by the Tamil Tigers during the war.
Most parts of Sri Lanka's Tamil-dominated north were under rebels' control for the most part of 30 years before the rebels were defeated in May 2009.
A United Nations panel and human rights groups had accused the Sri Lankan military and Tamil Tigers of committing war crimes during the final stages of the war.
The Northern Provincial Council had recently called for a UN- backed investigation into the mass grave in Mannar, but the government has refused to consider such a request.
Meanwhile the police are also investigating another mass grave in Central Sri Lanka where over 150 skeletal remains and bones had been unearthed last year. (Xinhua)
February 27, 2014Specimens of human remains found in a mass grave in northern Sri Lanka will be sent to a Beta Analytic archaeological laboratory in the U.S. to be dated, an official said on Thursday.
A special commission was appointed by Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa to investigate into the mass grave where 80 skeletons have been uncovered so far.
Former Supreme Court judge S. I. Imam heads the presidential commission and has outlined a plan to send samples on human remains to reporters.
"We are considering the option of sending samples to a laboratory in Florida," he said.
The commission has also commenced an inquiry where 66 witnesses gave evidence earlier this week.
The mass grave was identified in December when construction workers were digging the ground. The criminal investigation department is investigating the discovery and there is suspicion the remains may be of people killed by the Tamil Tigers during the war.
Most parts of Sri Lanka's Tamil-dominated north were under rebels' control for the most part of 30 years before the rebels were defeated in May 2009.
A United Nations panel and human rights groups had accused the Sri Lankan military and Tamil Tigers of committing war crimes during the final stages of the war.
The Northern Provincial Council had recently called for a UN- backed investigation into the mass grave in Mannar, but the government has refused to consider such a request.
Meanwhile the police are also investigating another mass grave in Central Sri Lanka where over 150 skeletal remains and bones had been unearthed last year. (Xinhua)
