Ongoing excavations at the Colombo Port have uncovered at least five human skeletons, according to police reports. The remains were initially found on July 13 during construction work by a private company near the Old Secretariat building, as part of the Port City Expressway project.

Following the discovery, a formal investigation was launched on September 5, 2024, under the supervision of the Chief Magistrate of Colombo. This phase involved Judicial Medical Officers, archaeologists, and representatives from the Office on Missing Persons (OMP), which has been authorized to oversee inquiries into potential mass graves.

After the first excavation phase, a second phase took place from September 26 to 28, resulting in the recovery of additional skeletons, which are now being held at the Colombo (North) Crimes Unit's lab for further examination. Senior Professor Raj Somadeva is leading the excavation efforts.

Authorities have indicated that further excavations are necessary, as more skeletons have been found at the site. The third phase of the excavation is set to begin on October 17, 2024, as investigations continue to uncover the origins and context of the remains.