Colombo Port excavations uncover at least five human skeletons

• More skeletons emerge at site

By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya  

At least five human skeletons have been recovered during further excavations conducted at the Colombo Port premises, police said.  

The remains were initially discovered on July 13 during construction work by a private company digging six feet underground near the Old Secretariat building at Colombo Fort, as part of the Port City Expressway project.  

The probe into the skeletons found at the Colombo Port began with an excavation process on September 5, 2024, under the direction of the Chief Magistrate of Colombo.   

This phase involved Judicial Medical Officers, archaeologists, and representatives from the Office on Missing Persons (OMP). The OMP has been authorized by the Magistrate to oversee the investigation into potential mass graves.  

Police said that after the first phase of excavations, the second phase was conducted on September 26, 27, and 28. The recovered human skeletons have been placed under police protection at the Colombo (North) Crimes Unit’s lab for further investigations.  

Senior Professor Raj Somadeva is overseeing the excavation.  

Police said that the next phase of excavation is necessary, as several more skeletons have emerged at the site.  

Meanwhile, it has been reported that the third phase of the excavation is scheduled to commence on October 17, 2024.  

Senior police officials said that investigations are underway to uncover more details about the origins and context of the remains.