News and events

Mass grave at Colombo Port

2024-07-13

The mass grave at Colombo Port was uncovered on July 13, 2024, while construction was underway for the Port City Expressway near the Old Secretariat building in Colombo, Sri Lanka. During the excavation, workers discovered human skeletal remains located approximately six feet beneath the surface. This site is situated around 300 metres from a naval camp, within a former High Security Zone HSZ that previously contained military and police detention facilities during the late 1980s and early 1990s, a time characterized by extensive state violence and enforced disappearances.

Excavation efforts began on September 5, 2024, under the oversight of Colombo Chief Magistrate Bandara Ilangasinghe, with forensic archaeologist Professor Raj Somadeva and Consultant Judicial Medical Officer Dr. Sunil Hewage leading the inquiry. The initial excavation phase spanned eight days, during which at least two skeletons and four skulls were uncovered. Further stages of the excavation revealed additional remains, including those of two children. By February 2025, a total of 16 individuals had been identified, and forensic specialists suggested that the burial conditions indicated the victims had been executed rather than having succumbed to natural causes.

The excavation process has faced challenges due to a lack of funding, resulting in multiple suspensions of work. The Office on Missing Persons OMP is tasked with providing financial resources for the investigation. Access to the site has been restricted by authorities, allowing observers, including representatives from the UN, the OMP, human rights advocates, journalists, and family members of the missingto visit only during designated lunch breaks and after working hours.

The discovery of this mass grave contributes to the increasing tally of such sites throughout Sri Lanka, many of which are associated with the nation's civil war. Although at least 32 mass graves have been documented, there has been no accountability for the individuals responsible for these heinous acts. The excavation at Colombo Port is not an isolated case it highlights the persistent difficulties in confronting issues of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings within the country. Families of the missing individuals, along with human rights organizations, persist in their calls for a thorough and transparent investigation into the mass grave at Colombo Port, aiming for justice and accountability for the victims.

CHRD has taken an active role in investigating the mass grave at Colombo Port, pushing for transparency and accountability throughout the exhumation process. Following the discovery of human skeletal remains on July 13, 2024, during construction for the Port City Expressway near the Old Secretariat building, CHRD initiated legal actions to ensure a formal inquiry. Subsequently, Colombo Chief Magistrate Bandara Ilangasinghe ordered the excavation to commence on September 5, 2024.

In the initial excavation phase, which spanned eight days, at least two skeletons and four skulls were recovered. However, the excavation was halted on September 13, 2024, due to a lack of funding. The second phase resumed on September 26, 2024, revealing additional skeletal remains, but this phase was also suspended on September 28, 2024, awaiting budget approvals. The third phase commenced on January 27, 2025, and by January 31, 2025, six more skeletons had been found. Unfortunately, this phase was also put on hold due to ongoing financial limitations.

During the excavation efforts, CHRD has offered legal support to the families of the missing individuals. Attorneys Ranitha Gnanaraja and V.S. Niranchan, engaged by CHRD, have represented the victim families in court proceedings, safeguarding their interests.