The Chemmani mass graves case was yesterday put off for May 15, when it was bought before the Magistrates courts.

Four suspects in the case were earlier given bail, while a fifth was believed to have slipped out of the country.

The CID said that more time was required as it was difficult to conduct investigations under the tense circumstances in Jaffna. Skeletal remains that were found at the Chemmani graves are awaiting to undergo

DNA testing. The CID said that tenders have been called from laboratories in the UK but money has not been allocated by the Ministry of Defence for this purpose.

Skepticism was expressed earlier regarding the high cost of the DNA tests as a large number of were tests required and these exceeded the resources available to local forensic scientists.

Case records of the chemmani mass graves case which were originally in the Jaffna magistrates courts were bought to Colombo on the directions of the Colombo Chief Magistrate, G.D.Kulatilleke, early last year, due to difficulties in conducting the case in Jaffna.(HJ)