The exhumation of human skeletal remains found in front of the Colombo Port took place on September 5, 2024, under the close supervision of officials from the Office of Missing Persons, lawyers representing the victims’ families, archaeologist Raj Somadeva, and Judicial Medical Officer S. P. A. Hewage. The decision, ordered by Colombo Chief Magistrate Thilina Gamage, brought new hope to families searching for their loved ones who disappeared in Colombo over the years.
The skeletal remains were discovered by a private construction company for the construction of the Port City Expressway entrance during excavation work at a roundabout in front of the Colombo Port Police Station. According to the Police, the human skeleton was found six feet underground when the company’s employees were excavating. Following a complaint lodged on July 3rd by J. Jayasinghe, an Assistant Security Officer of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority, the court was informed of the find. The Port Police quickly moved to secure the site and requested authorization from the court to conduct a thorough investigation.
Disappearances in Colombo have been a long-standing issue, with hundreds of people reported missing over the past decades, particularly during periods of conflict and unrest. Many families have spent years searching for answers regarding their missing relatives, with little success. The Office of Missing Persons, established to investigate these cases, has been working to provide closure to the families by investigating possible mass graves and unidentified human remains across the country.
Today’s excavation will be conducted with heightened scrutiny and transparency, as the families, their legal representatives, and officials from the Office of Missing Persons will be present to oversee the process. The court’s directive emphasizes the importance of a thorough investigation, offering a glimmer of hope to those who continue to search for their missing loved ones in Colombo and beyond.
