142 skeletons in Matale mass grave

( February 02, 2013, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) The total number of human skeletal remains unearthed from a mass grave behind the Matale Hospital has risen to 142 since the excavation started in early November last year.

The skeletal remains have been sent for carbon dating in a bid to establish the era the grave came into existence, officials said.

Some argue that the grave contains the victims of the aborted 1971 armed insurrection of the Janatha Vimukthi Perumana (JVP) in 1971 while there are others who say it could go back to the 18th century during the colonial era.

Experts from several agencies are currently working on the site. The grave was discovered by workers who were building bio gas tank in the location.