Their lawyer K.S. Ratnavel says a proper investigation into the grave should first have a determination of the time period of the grave.

He has told jdslanka.org that despite claims by the Archaeology Department that this was neither a crime scene nor a mass grave of missing persons, written evidence had been submitted to court that a cemetery had not existed their either.

The remains belonging to more than 80 persons had been found in a pile, which and many other evidence point to it being a crime scene, according to him.

Excavations at the grave at Thirukethiswaram, first detected in December 2013, were suspended after the Archaeology Department told courts that it was a cemetery before 1953.

However, relatives of missing persons made submissions to court saying the surveyor general’s office nor Pradeshiya Sabha street maps mention the existence of a cemetery there.

Thereafter, further excavations were allowed.

Lawyer Ratnavel said they would object to the samples being sent to foreign experts through the CID, going by the experiences with regard to the Matale mass grave, where experts had cast suspicion over the genuinity of the samples sent.

He also said what the CID does is to get the hearing put off every time.

A court order has been obtained to prevent removal or testing of the samples presently in the custody of the Anuradhapura General Hospital.

The petitioners have mentioned forensic science laboratories in the US, Argentina and other countries, where the carbon testing could be carried out.