posted January 23, 2001 10:39 PM            

On 7th September 1996, Krishanthi Kumarasamy, a student at Chundikuli Girlsof occupation in Thamileelam and by several Sinhala policemen. Her mother, Rasamma (59, Vice Principal of Kaithady Maha Vidyalayam), accompanied by her son, Pranaban (16), and a neighbor, Kirupakaran Sithamparam (35), who went to the army camp looking for her, were also murdered by the Sinhala army personnel. The bodies of all four victims were then cut into pieces and buried within the army camp.
Somaratne Rajapakse

The soldier who made the mass grave allegation , Somaratne Rajapakse was convicted of the murder of school girl Krishanthi Kumaraswamy whose body was found close to the site he claims contains the grave. One of the soldiers, Corporal Dewage Somaratne, asked by the judges why he should not be given the death penalty, said they did not kill anyone. "We only buried bodies. We can show you where 300 to 400 bodies have been buried," he said. He also said "almost every evening, dead bodies were brought there and the soldiers were asked to bury them."
Major. Gen. Srilal Weerasooriya

Recent revelations at Chemmani confirm that the military division under Weerasooriya's wing were not involved in a 'hearts and minds' operation only. The two skeletons were those of two men who 'disappeared' during his term in the north. Senior officers like Srilal Weerasooriya who was in charge of Jaffna when these mass killings took place have received promotions and commendations.
Mrs. Chandrika Kumaratunga
The President of Sri Lanka initially denied this incident in a statement dated 2nd October 1996. But, despite a government imposed media censorship, the events got published in the international media. The bodies were exhumed, but immediately cremated on the orders of the government.

Chemmani Mass Grave Map