Latest massacre: Six bodies identifiable

Pix and text by Hiran Priyankara

Six of the nine bodies recovered from a marshy land in Dummaladeniya, Wennappuwa on Friday were in an identifiable state, police said.

They said it is believed six persons may have been killed ten days ago, while the others may have been killed about 20 days ago.
Five of the men who had been slain were clad in trousers and another in a sarong while the two females were in denims, police said.

The bodies being removed for post-mortem at Ragama hospital

The bodies had been recovered near a clump of bamboo trees in a marsh and had been scattered at two different places. The place where the bodies were recovered is about two and half miles from the Coconut Research Institute in Wennappuwa.

After the recovery of the bodies Police continued their search operation to gather more evidence while the main road close to where the bodies were found was closed for traffic.

More than 1000 villagers gathered on Friday after the news that the bodies were found.
Acting Magistrate Gamini Arthanatha visited the scene on Friday. The bodies have been brought to the Ragama hospital for further investigation.