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Trincomalee

SL/E/TRIN/M/07

Balawatha · Navy Gun Boat 01

Period
Modern
Year sunk
1987
District
Trincomalee
Depth
8.00–10.00 m
Vessel type
Military Craft, Bulk Carrier

Overview

A military craft/ small gunboat belongs to the Sri Lanka Navy. The craft was known as the 'Balawatha" was in service from 1957 to 1963. It was decommissioned and anchored in Trincomalee harbour for many years. it was sunken in 1987, during the LTTR war, another gunboat was sunk very next to this one (Gunboat - Rakshaka) in 1997. Both were now functioning as artificial reefs, lots of corals and marine life can be seen on these wrecks. The location is known as northeast to Elephant Island, Trincomalee.  

Navy Gunboat 03 20 Aug 2008 © Rasika Muthucumarana
Navy Gunboat 03 20 Aug 2008 © Rasika Muthucumarana
Remains of the boat 20 Aug 2008 © Rasika Muthucumarana
Remains of the boat 20 Aug 2008 © Rasika Muthucumarana
Video 20 Aug 2008 © Rasika Muthucumarana

Location

District: Trincomalee

Province: Eastern

Depth profile

8–10 m

Protection & status

Access
Yes
Legal status
None
Archaeological value
Low
Physical protection
None
Degradation
Corrosion
Degradation
Fragile
Owner terrain
Sri Lanka Navy
Owner site
Sri Lanka Navy
Authority
Sri Lanka Navy
Threat
Deterioration

Vessel chronology

1987

Year sunk

1957 – 1987

Time period estimate

Record provenance

Recorded
2008-08-20
Last updated
2021-09-06
Biodiversity survey
Incomplete

Data: National Shipwreck Database / CCF–MAU