Sri Lankan police send ‘mass grave’ ashes for forensic testing

COLOMBO - Sri Lankan police have reportedly sent 24 bags full of ashes for forensic testing from a suspected mass grave of government troops in the north-eastern parts bordering Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts.

The BBC quoted officials as saying that jailed Tamil Tiger rebels had admitted that the grave contained the remains of 26 troops, including eight soldiers and 18 navy personnel, they had captured and shot dead in January 2009.

According to police, a small amount of human bones had been found at the site.

Police spokesman Prishantha Jayakody said that in addition a “powdery substance,” suspected to be human ashes, was also found and sent for forensic testing.

A team of legal and medical officers and a government analyst have been sent to the site, the report said.

Sri Lanka’s long civil war ended in May 2009 with the defeat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Both the government troops and the LTTE were accused of violating human rights during the final days and international human rights groups claim that over 30,000 civilians were killed during the final battles last year, it added.

Human rights groups have also accused the two sides of violating human rights, especially in the final months of the war. (ANI)