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Galle

SL/S/GHRB/M/34

Sri Lankan Glory · Rumassala New Wreck

Period
Modern
Year sunk
2019
District
Galle
Depth
4.00–0.00 m
Vessel type
General Cargo Ship, Bulk Carrier

Overview

A cargo vessel named ‘Sri Lankan Glory’ was washed ashore and met with an accident in Rumassala on 18th July 2019. The ship which belonged to an Indian company had been at anchor outside the Galle harbour after unloading its cargo which was a stock of chemicals brought for the Galle Cement Company. According to the authorities that the ship was carrying a total of 22 tonnes of oil. The anchor broke due to strong winds and had hit the rocks near the Japanese ‘Peace Pagoda’, at the foot of the Rumassala hill in Unawatuna. The wreckage of a ship which hit the coral reef has been cut into pieces and removed as junk.

A stock of 22 tons of oil on board the ship had also been drained by a private company under the supervision of the Marine Pollution Preventing Authority and dispatched to the company’s refinery in Puttalam. The ship had been entrusted to the Director of Merchant Ships and placed under guard to prevent any unauthorized entry. A private company has undertaken the cutting up and removal of the wreckage as junk on the recommendation of the Wildlife Conservation Department and the Marine Pollution Prevention Authority.

Removing fuel from the cargo vessel ‘Sri Lanka Glory’, which was in distress off Rumassala coast recently due to gusty winds, has reached the final phase.

The Marine Environment Protection Authority (or MEPA) stated that the agent of the agent has been informed to take preliminary measures to remove the vessel from where it is anchored at present.

Deputy General Manager of MEPA Jagath Gunasekara stated that fuel is currently being pumped to the tanks on the beach.

He added that nearly 12 metric tonnes of fuel have been removed from the vessel so far.

The Marine Environment Protection Authority has already taken necessary steps to remove the vessel before any damages to the vessels could result in a major oil spill

Google image 18 Jan 2020 © https://www.google.com
Google image 21 Jan 2020 © https://www.google.com
Google image 26 Mar 2021 © https://www.google.com
Google image 7 Jan 2022 © https://www.google.com
Ship at the Rumassala Beach 18 Jul 2019 © captureeye.com

Location

District: Galle

Province: Southern

Depth profile

4–0 m

Protection & status

Access
None
Legal status
None
Archaeological value
None
Physical protection
None
Degradation
Corrosion
Owner terrain
Sri Lanka Navy
Owner terrain
Merchant Shipping Secretariat
Owner site
Sri Lanka Navy
Owner site
Merchant Shipping Secretariat
Authority
Sri Lanka Navy
Authority
Merchant Shipping Secretariat
Threat
Salvage

Vessel chronology

2019

Year sunk

References & publications

  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCjRrZzd-Hs
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQcNdDWPDwg
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ReCZSuwHZkI
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAZ34XuwCVg
  • https://www.newsfirst.lk/2019/07/21/fuel-removal-of-sri-lanka-glory-suspended/
  • https://www.sundaytimes.lk/190804/news/major-oil-spill-averted-after-ship-crashes-onto-reef-off-galle-361317.html

Record provenance

Recorded
07/18/2019
Last updated
2023-07-26
Biodiversity survey
Incomplete

Data: National Shipwreck Database / CCF–MAU