No gunshot injuries in Mannar grave skeletons

COLOMBO (News 1st) - Experts conducting excavations of the Mannar mass grave have identified that most of the skeletal remains discovered in the grave had suffered heavy blows by sharp weapons. The experts have concluded that none of the skeletal remains displayed signs of gun shot injuries. Around 55 skeletons and several bone fragments were discovered during the excavation. Excavations on the site began in March this year, based on a court order by the Mannar Magistrates Court, when bone fragments were discovered during the excavation of land for the Sathosa complex in Mannar. The excavations are being carried out by a team of Judicial Medical Officers led by the JMO of the Mannar hospital, Specialist Doctor Chaminda Rajapakse. Professor Raj Somadeva has also joined the team to carry out a forensic archeological inquiry. According to the excavation team, 6 of the skeleton that were discovered belonged to children while a number of skeletons were that of old women and men. Professor Somadeva speaking to News1st noted that the skeletons had been disposed in an arbitrary manner adding that who ever did it seemed to have been in a rush to dispose them. He went onto note that they are conduction investigations to ascertain when the skeletons were buried.