SL/W/COLO/M/32

The Wellawatta Wreck, situated on the reef behind the Wellawatta railway station and visible from the vicinity of the Kinross Club, is a known landmark for train travellers. While many are familiar with its presence, the origin of this shipwreck remains shrouded in mystery.

According to Rex I. De Silva, a distinguished pioneer diver and researcher, the Wellawatta Wreck was a utility barge named S.T. Samson, which was deliberately sunk during the 1960s. The plan was to create a Fish Aggregating Device (FAD) that would attract marketable fish. This was an idea of Dr. George de Bruin, former Research Officer at the old Fisheries Research Station, Galle Face.

An arrangement was made with the Colombo Port Commission (CPC), and the barge was to be sunk about 200 meters beyond the deep edge of the Wellawatta reef. However, during the sinking operation, unexpected strong currents intervened and dragged the barge onto the reef, causing it to wreck in its current location. Despite the mishap, the authorities had to leave the barge there, and over time, it began to deteriorate and break into parts. As a result, fewer remnants are visible above sea level today compared to what was observed two decades ago.

The exact date of the sinking is not known, but the legacy of the Wellawatta Wreck continues to intrigue locals and passersby. Its unique history as an unintentionally placed FAD adds an interesting aspect to the shipwreck's story. As travellers on trains glimpse the scattered iron parts, they become witness to a piece of maritime history—remnants of a utility barge that became a permanent fixture on the reef, offering a different kind of attraction to those who journey along the coast near Wellawatta.