A team of workers from the Ceylon Electricity Board, who were involved in the installation of an electricity pole in front of the Elections Secretariat office in Matara Fort, made an interesting discovery. They stumbled upon several skeletal remains that are believed to date back to the Dutch period.
Upon finding the potential human bones, the workers promptly reported their discovery to the Department of Archaeology. As a result, an investigation was launched, and the matter was brought before the Matara Magistrate’s Court.
The Magistrate personally examined the excavation site as well as the skeletal remains. These remains, along with other artifacts that were recovered, are currently being kept at the Matara Star Fort Museum.
During the excavation, the workers also uncovered various fragments of human skeletal remains, porcelain pieces, a smoking pipe, and pottery fragments. These findings have been handed over to the museum for safekeeping.
The Magistrate has instructed that these fragments be preserved in the museum, and the archaeology officials have been directed to conduct further excavations at the site where the bones were found. It is believed that these discoveries are from the Dutch colonial period, as confirmed by archaeological experts.
The Matara Police are actively carrying out additional investigations into this intriguing find.
