Maritime Wrecks of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is fast becoming known around the world as one of the top wreck diving destinations. But unknown to most a good part of Sri Lanka’s heritage lies scattered on its seabed, mostly lost and forgotten. There is no doubt that Sri Lanka is a land of history and diversity and its ocean is no exception.

The transformation of a shipwreck into a coral reef is amazing as it forms a viable component in marine ecology. When a vessel sinks to the seabed it becomes part of its environment and an abundance of marine life wraps around it over time forming a foundation, framework and shelter helping to sustain a marine ecosystem.

The shipwreck reef environment provides a habitat for an abundance of marine life with soft and hard corals transforming it into magnificent natural reef. Fish, sponges, anemones, clams, octopi, squid, mollusks, eels and cowries interact and thrive among these lost ships. Divers relish the opportunity to visit these treasures and experience the underwater kaleidoscopic of life and history. To ensure the same opportunities to future generations of divers and researchers makes it imperative for an understanding of the complex environment surrounding shipwrecks and a commitment to shipwreck site preservation.

Day after day, the value of a shipwreck increases as it becomes richer in marine life and biodiversity. Thus, the preservation of wrecks is an important viable component in marine ecology. Considering the archaeological value of wrecks, Sri Lankan law (Antiquities Ordinance No. 9 of 1940) prohibits any sunken vessel within territorial waters older than 100 years to be salvaged including removal of artefacts without permit. At least 41 shipwrecks are classified as archeological. Studies have shown that long-term gains from marine tourism alone far outweigh the value of salvaging a wreck for scrap metal.

Distribution of Wrecks

The Colombo seaboard down to Panadura has the highest number of known shipwrecks (30) and best dive sites. They are mostly latter-day shipwrecks with about 25% from World War I and II. Shipwrecks with treasures, priceless ceramics and coins from various maritime nations lie off the ancient ports such as Galle, Mantai and Trincomalee. The most studied of these ports, Galle is known to have as many as 26 maritime archaeological sites.

On the eastern seaboard at Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Vakarai and Kalmunai are where most of the World War II wrecks are found. The two Basses reefs in the south are known to have the most treacherous seas during the two monsoon seasons. They are home to priceless archeological wrecks dating prior to when the lighthouses were built in the 1870s . Sri Lanka Coast Guard (SLCG) approval is required to access the Great & Little Basses reefs.