The appeal was made in a letter to UNHRC president Mary Robinson by the relatives, who have formed an organisation called `The Guardians Association for Persons Arrested and Disappeared in North'. ``We are really annoyed and impatient at the attitude of the Sri Lankan government which is purposely delaying exhumation of the mass grave,'' he said. He also cast a doubt about the impartiality of the Human Rights Commission (HRC) set up by the government.

The UNHRC had already informed the commission that it would not assist in exhumation because it had not received permission from the Sri Lankan government.

Press reports said relatives of the missing were planning to petition the court for an order to open the grave with police assistance.