Anil is a forensic pathologist who returns to her birthplace of Sri Lanka after living abroad in Europe and the United States for fifteen years. Working under the auspices of a human rights organization based in Geneva, she investigates the extent of organized violence against civilians. She fiercely guards her independence and keeps others at a distance, preferring the quiet focus of her laboratory over complicated personal attachments.

Sarath is a local archeologist assigned to work alongside Anil during her seven-week mission. Having lived in Sri Lanka through decades of civil conflict, he maintains a quiet, guarded demeanor to survive in a politically dangerous environment. He buries his personal grief in his work, finding more logic in ancient history than in the violence of the present day.

Gamini is Sarath's younger brother and an emergency doctor in Colombo. Known by his childhood nickname "Mouse," he prefers to observe quietly from the margins rather than draw attention to himself. He avoids the emotional toll of the ongoing war and his own family history by working constant shifts at the hospital, subsisting largely on pills and protein drinks to stay awake.

Palipana is a once-revered epigraphist and Sarath's former teacher. He retreated from society to live in an abandoned forest monastery called the Grove of Ascetics after the archeological community ousted him for allegedly fabricating historical evidence. Now blind, he understands the history of Sri Lanka through touch and memory.

Ananda is a plumbago-graphite miner and talented artisan living in a rural village. He struggles with severe alcohol use following the disappearance of his wife, spending his days performing dangerous mining work and his nights drinking. He agrees to help Anil and Sarath with a delicate reconstruction project.

Leaf is an American friend of Anil who shares her background in forensic pathology. The two bonded over analyzing movies and bowling in Arizona. She provides Anil with a sense of connection to the Western world.

Cullis is a married photojournalist with whom Anil maintained a sporadic affair. He frequently attempted to pry into Anil's heavily guarded background, leading to the deterioration of their relationship.

Sirissa is Ananda's wife, a woman who worked as a cleaner at a local school. She lacked a formal education but possessed a deep curiosity, often peeking into classrooms to learn what she could before violence struck her village.

Dr. Perera is the senior medical officer at the local hospital. He knew Anil's father and frequently brings up her past as a swimmer, representing the traditional social expectations Anil tried to leave behind.

Lalitha is Anil's former childhood nanny who still resides in Sri Lanka. When Anil visits her, they find they can no longer communicate effectively because Anil has lost her fluency in the local language.

Ravina is Sarath’s deceased wife. Her tragic death casts a long shadow over the Diyasena family, fundamentally altering how both Sarath and his brother Gamini approach their lives and their medical and historical work.

Gunesena is a man whom Anil and Sarath find nailed to the ground along a rural road. His brutalized state illustrates the random, horrific violence prevalent in the country.

A young woman who lives with her blind uncle at the Grove of Ascetics. She was brought to the forest monastery after being traumatized by her parents' murder and prefers the safety of the wild surroundings.

Dr. Linus Corea is a doctor who maintained a private practice in Colombo, believing his medical neutrality would protect him from the civil war. He was eventually kidnapped by insurgents and forced to treat wounded fighters at a rebel camp.