Waddukoddai Police have arrested a 21 year old person whilst transporting 86.41 Grammes of
"Ice" Narcotic in a Motorcycle for distribution at Waddukoddai ,Siththnakeni in Jaffna last evening (27). The estimated value of the haul of "Ice" narcotic taken in to custody in possession of the suspect is around Rs.800,000. The Suspect who is a resident of Waddukoddai area is due to be produced before Mallakam Magistrate Court today (28). Waddukoddai Police are conducting an investigations over the incident.
The Consultant Judicial Medical Officer, District General Hospital Mannar, Dr Rajapaksha
noted that “After 118 working days we have unearthed two hundred and seventy-eight
skeletons,from the Mannar mass grave, located at the Sathosa Building in Mannar town which includes remains of men, women and children.
There are some damages to
the bones, but it is only upon further investigation that we can determine if these are ante
mortem or post mortem injuries, and whether it relates to the cause of death " Dr.Rajapakshe has stated .
From the 18
th to the 20th December 2018, the Office on Missing
Persons (OMP) observed the process of selecting six bone samples for radio carbon dating (Case No
B/232/2018). The process of selecting samples was carried out at the excavation site under
the auspices of the Mannar Magistrate, Honourable T. Saravanaraja it has been revealed.
The Press Release issued by Mr.Rudran Kumar ,The Media Officer of the Office On Missing Persons this morning in this regard given below.
Office on Missing Persons assists investigation of human remains at
the Mannar mass grave
December 28, 2018: From the 18
th to the 20th December 2018, the Office on Missing
Persons (OMP) observed the process of selecting six bone samples for radio carbon dating at
the Mannar mass grave, located at the Sathosa Building in Mannar town (Case No
B/232/2018). The process of selecting samples was carried out at the excavation site under
the auspices of the Mannar Magistrate, Honourable T. Saravanaraja. The team carrying out
the sample selection included representatives from the Consultant Judicial Medical Officers,
the Post Graduate Institute of Archaeology from the University of Kelaniya, the Police
(Scene of Crime Officers – SOCO and crime investigation branch), and the Government
Analysts Department. OMP Commissioners Mr. Mirak Raheem and Mr. K. Venthan were
present as observers. Lawyers representing families of the disappeared and a member from
the Citizens’ Committee were also present as observers. Radio carbon dating calculates the amount of Carbon-14 in bone and teeth samples and
establishes the approximate time when an animal or plant was alive. It is a form of testing
used in archaeology and forensic science for dating human remains. The samples from the
Mannar mass gravesite will be sent to a laboratory abroad which specializes in bomb pulse
carbon 14 technique. In cases where the skeletons belonged to persons that died after World
War II, bomb pulse carbon 14 dating can provide a narrower range of time periods in which
the deaths occurred.
The Consultant Judicial Medical Officer, District General Hospital Mannar, Dr Rajapaksha
noted that “After 118 working days we have unearthed two hundred and seventy-eight
skeletons, which includes remains of men, women and children. There are some damages to
the bones, but it is only upon further investigation that we can determine if these are ante
mortem or post mortem injuries, and whether it relates to the cause of death. Our task has
been to gather evidence to determine the cause of death, time since death, the contributing
circumstances and the specific identity of the individuals in this site, and also determine if all
the skeletons are from the same historical period or different periods, while ensuring the
integrity of the site and chain of custody of remains and other evidence.” Dr Rajapaksha
heads the investigation team and is assisted Professor Raj Somadeva who leads the
archaeological team.
Six samples were selected to represent the different areas and vertical layers of the site.
Human remains had been excavated from the site as complete skeletons and as comingled
bones. From complete skeletons, a tooth and a section of the femur bone was selected. From
the comingled bones only the femur or where it was unavailable a tooth. The samples were
extracted, cleaned, dried, sealed and labelled over the course of three days. Following the
samples being tested at a laboratory and the results being submitted, a preliminary combined
excavation report including the test results and other findings will be submitted by the
investigation team to the Magistrate Court. The OMP was established under the Office on Missing Persons (Establishment,
Administration and Discharge of Functions) Act No 14 of 2016, and has a primary mandate
to search for and trace missing persons. Under its investigative powers, the OMP has the
authority to apply to a Magistrate’s Court to act as an observer at excavations and
exhumations of suspected grave sites [Section 12(d)]. The OMP’s application to act as an
observer was accepted by the Honourable Mannar Magistrate on 4th June 2018, and it has
been observing the process of excavation since. The OMP will provide financial assistance to carry out carbon dating as part of its continued
support to the investigation. Prior to the sampling process, the OMP recommended guidelines
for selecting and recording the samples. The OMP emphasised the need to ensure
representatives of families of the disappeared and missing at the time of selecting samples to
ensure accountability and transparency of the process. Further, the OMP recommended
measures to secure the chain of custody of samples.
Chairperson of the OMP, Mr. Saliya Pieris, stated that “The OMP remains committed to
establishing the truth about circumstances in which persons went missing and their fate. It is
imperative for the OMP to assist the investigation of the remains excavated at the Mannar
mass grave.” Since July 2018, the OMP has been supporting the costs of food and lodgings of
the excavation team and provided additional funds for covers to protect the grave site from
the monsoon rain. “We have sought to impress on the authorities the need to maintain high
standards and ensure public confidence and trust in the investigation process” Mr Pieris
further added
Six passengers including a small child had been injured and hospitalized after the Three
Wheeler and a Motor Car they were travelling in colliding with each other at Ekkassa area ,Ambalanthota on Thissa-Matara road last night (27).
The injured including four traveled in the Three Wheeler and Two traveled in the Motor Car had been admitted to Ambalanthota Hospital and later transferred them to Hambanthota General Hospital.
The Motor Car was Travelling Nonagama to Ambalanthota and the Three Wheeler was travelling from Ambalanthota to Nonagama at the time of the accident and the high speed Motor Car collided with a small bridge first and than collided with the Three Wheeler .
The accident occurred due to the inability of the Motor Car driver to control the speed of the vehicle according to Ambalanthota Police.
Both vehicles have damaged severely due to the accident.
Three Pilgrims Who were on pilgrimage to "Sripadha " had been injured and hospitalized after a huge rock had fallen on them at "Mahagiridamba " are on Nallathanniya -Sripadha Road last evening (27). The injured one of them critically had been admitted to Dikoya Base Hospital and the critically injured had been later transferred to Nawalapitiya Hospital for further treatment. The injured pilgrims are residents of Ganemulla and Tangalle areas .
Immigration and Emigration Department has decided to issue All country passports only with
effect from 01st of January 2019 according the Immigration and Emigration Controller General M.N.Ranasinghe ,
Accordingly Passports issued to Only Middle Eastern Countries will be stopped with effect from 31st of December 2018 .
Those who wants to obtain Passports to travel Middle Eastern Countries should be applied for all Country Passports with effect from 01st of January The Immigration Emigration Controller has said.
More details can be obtained through the number 1962 or 0115 329200 .
"Ice" Narcotic in a Motorcycle for distribution at Waddukoddai ,Siththnakeni in Jaffna last evening (27).
