Excavations at the mass grave discovered within the Colombo Port premises have so far uncovered skeletal remains belonging to 88 individuals, officials confirmed.

The mass grave, which came to light on 13 July 2024 during construction work for the elevated expressway from Ingurukade Junction to Colombo Port, was found within the grounds of the old Secretariat Office at the port.

Following a court order, the first phase of excavations began on 5 September 2024, under the supervision of then Colombo Chief Magistrate Bandara Ilangasinghe. The work is currently being carried out under the direction of Additional Magistrate Kasun Kanchana Dissanayake.

Sri Lanka’s leading forensic archaeologist, Senior Professor Raj Somadeva, is overseeing the excavation process, while Judicial Medical Officer Sunil Hewage is in charge of forensic investigations. Excavation work, which had been temporarily halted, has now entered its third phase.

The Colombo mass grave has already become one of the most significant archaeological and forensic investigations in recent years, raising questions about the origins of the remains, their historical context, and the circumstances that led to the burial of so many individuals in one location.