COLOMBO: Four more skeletons were recovered from a mass grave near the Thiruketheeswaram temple in Mannar district of North Sri Lanka on Thursday, taking the total number of skeletons recovered from there since December 20 last year to 36.

The digging is being done under the supervision of the Anuradhpura Judicial Medical Officer D. L. Waidyaratne and the ‘Scene of Crime’ Police.

Waidyaratne told reporters that one of the skulls dug up on Thursday had the mouth wide open and the inside showed signs of injury. Not all skeletons were intact. Skulls separated from their bodies were also found.

The mass grave which was accidentally discovered by pipe layers of the water board, was reported to the Mannar police, who in turn secured a court order to excavate systematically.

Since Dec 20, seven diggings have taken place. The digging is expected to be resumed on Friday. The mass grave is located in a former war zone.