Excavation for suspected human skeletal remains in an abandoned well in Thiruketheeswaram, Mannar which was started yesterday was ordered to postpone until 29th April by Mannar Magistrate, due to Judicial Medical Officer being unavailable.

The abandoned well is situated near the Mannar mass grave site, which was discovered in 2013 by construction workers who were digging the site to lay pipes. Upon excavation which followed, 81 human skeletons were unearthed in 2014.

Although excavations were started on 19th February, it was unable to complete since the well began to submerge. The court ordered to funnel out water to a pit dug nearby the well, and begin excavation on 4th April.