REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, COLOMBO -- An unmarked mass grave has been found in Sri Lanka's former war zone, the first discovery of an unmarked gravesite since troops defeated Tamil rebels more than four years ago, police said Sunday.

Construction workers in the coastal district of Mannar stumbled on at least 10 skeletal remains buried at a location where they were laying a new water pipe, said police spokesman Ajith Rohana.

"A judicial medical officer has gone to the site. Further forensic examinations are underway to determine the age of the mass grave," Rohana told AFP. "Additional staff are being inducted for the investigation."

There was no immediate indication who the victims were or how and when they had died.

However, it is the first time that evidence of a mass grave has emerged in the former war zone since troops declared victory over separatist Tamil Tiger guerrillas in May 2009.

Both government forces and Tamil Tiger rebels have been accused of killing civilians during the 37-year separatist war.

Sri Lanka has denied allegations that its troops killed up to 40,000 civilians in the final months of fighting.

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