Third phase of Colombo mass grave excavations commence after months

January 29, 20252 Mins read24

The exhumation work stalled due to lack of funds has begun again at the Colombo port mass grave site. At least three human skeletons have been unearthed earlier. More skeletal remains have been observed following the enlargement of the original site found six months ago.

Excavation work at the first mass grave site found in a High Security Zone (HSZ) in the capital during the previous administration was put on hold for over four months due to non-availability of funds.

On Monday (27) investigators commenced trial trenching in the area surrounding the first pit to establish the extent of the mass grave. Local journalists who visited the site observed layers of sand being removed by heavy machinery. After digging a new pit next to the initial one on Tuesday, suspected skeletal remains were observed. This is the third phase of the exhumations.

The second phase of excavation into the human mass grave was stopped on the 28th of September, 2024 with a view to commence again in October the same year. However, due to lack of funding the next phase of excavation came to a standstill.

No reason for non-availability of funds or the dates for the third phase of excavation was made public subsequently.

Prof. Raj Somadeva has observed that when the work was suspended at the end of September last year, the investigations into the mass grave where human body parts were found could not be stopped for a long time.

However, it took four months for the funding, and the investigators expect to complete the excavation with the available funds in 20 days.

The responsibility of releasing the funds from the President’s office for the investigations into the mass grave lies with the Office on Missing Persons (OMP).

During the first phase of exhumation at the Colombo port mass grave at least three skeletons were dug out. At least four skulls were seen in the same pit when the initial phase of excavation was halted on the 13th of September, 2024.

Human remains were first noticed close to the old secretariat complex within the HSZ area on the 13th of July, 2024 when ground excavation work began for laying a high speed road leading to the Colombo port.

Upon being informed to court, based on an order of Hulftsdorp Magistrate Bandara Illangasinghe, excavation at the site commenced on the 5th of September, 2024.