EU delegation visit Chemmani massgrave as 455 human remains recovered so far

EU delegation consisting of five ambassadors based in Colombo visited the site today in Jaffna.  

A high-level European Union (EU) delegation visit the country’s largest mass grave in Chemmani, Jaffna, today (22) as ongoing excavations resulted in exhuming 455human skeletons so far.

Led by European Union Ambassador Carmen Moreno, the delegation consists of Ambassador of Italy Damiano Francovigh, Ambassador of Germany Dr Felix Neumann, Ambassador of France Rémi Lambert and Ambassador of the Netherlands Wiebe De Boer.

When the case relating to the Chemmani mass grave was taken up for hearing last week at Jaffna Magistrate’s Court, an application was put forwarded for court’s permission.

Located at the entry point to Jaffna city, the Chemmani mass grave came to light in 1998 with the abduction, gang rape and killing of school girl Krishanti Kumaraswamy and three others by Army personnel.

Meanwhile, the EU delegation also met with relatives of enforced disappeared persons who have been protesting since excavation activities demanding to further carry out forensic probe towards identification process.  (Northeastern Monitor/ July 22/ 2026)