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Central Cultural Fund — Maritime Archaeology Unit

Propeller

The propeller of SS Brines, Batticaloa

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Explore shipwrecks

Search our database of documented wreck and aircraft sites around Sri Lanka

National Shipwreck Database of Sri Lanka

Recorded sites · Protected sites · Average depth

115

Recorded sites

1

Aircraft wrecks

11

Protected sites

15.5m

Average depth

Underwater cultural heritage

Preserving and exploring Sri Lanka's maritime history

National Shipwreck Database of Sri Lanka

A comprehensive digital resource documenting wreck sites around Sri Lanka, including shipwrecks and aircraft remains. The database provides detailed information on each site's name, history, depth, and legal status.

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Maritime Archaeology Unit

The Maritime Archaeology Unit (MAU) was established in 2001 in Galle under the Central Cultural Fund to research, document, and preserve Sri Lanka's underwater cultural heritage through scientific exploration and conservation.

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MuseQR

MuseQR is a digital platform that unlocks stories behind museum artifacts. Discover remarkable finds from maritime archaeological excavations of the last three decades at the Maritime Archaeology Museum.

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Map

Explore wreck locations around Sri Lanka with our GIS mapping system

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Explore our features

Tools and resources for research, education, and stewardship

Interactive map

Explore wreck locations with geospatial referencing, clustering, and filtering options.

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Maritime timeline

Discover the evolution of maritime archaeology in Sri Lanka from the 1960s to the present.

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Story of Godawaya

Learn about the Godawaya shipwreck — among the oldest known wrecks in the Asia-Pacific region.

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Data insights

Visualised analytics on administrative areas, access restrictions, historical periods, and depth.

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Publications

Research publications, articles, and studies related to maritime archaeology and underwater cultural heritage.

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Researchers

Request enhanced access to comprehensive shipwreck data for academic research and cultural heritage preservation.

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Discover shipwreck artifacts

MuseQR unlocks stories behind museum artifacts — including finds from the Godawaya shipwreck and other maritime excavations over the last three decades.

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Publications

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  • Book Chapter · 2015

    Maritime Archaeology in Sri Lanka: Twenty five years old and a new beginning, in SHIPWRECK AROUND THE WORLD : Revelations of the Past

    Devendra S., & Muthucumarana R.

  • Journal Article · 2014

    An Early Historic Assemblage Offshore of Godawaya, Sri Lanka: Evidence for Early Regional Seafaring in South Asia

    R. Muthucumarana , A. S. Gaur W. M. Chandraratne, M. Manders, B. Ramlingeswara Rao, Ravi Bhushan, V. D. Khedekar and A. M. A. Dayananda

  • Journal Article · 2013

    Maritime Archaeology and Sri Lanka: Globalization, Immigration, and Transformation in the Underwater Archaeological Record

    Devendra S., & Muthucumarana R.

  • Journal Article · 2012

    SEM–EDS analysis of copper, glass and iron recovered from the 1st century AD shipwreck site off Godawaya, Southern Sri Lanka

    W. M. Chandraratne, A. S. Gaur, B. Ramalingeswara Rao, Ravi Bhushan, Rasika Muthucumarana, M. Manders, V. D. Khedekar, A. M. A. Dayananda

Our partners

Organisations collaborating on the National Shipwreck Database project

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Maritime Archaeology Unit

The National Shipwreck Database of Sri Lanka is maintained by the Maritime Archaeology Unit of the Central Cultural Fund. It documents underwater cultural heritage sites for research, education, and long-term protection.

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