The Director General of the Mercantile Shipping Division of the Ministry of Ports and Aviation, Shantha Weerakoon said that the plans are underway to salvage 16 drowned ships.

Tenders are to be called soon in this regard.

The authorities have information that 84 ships have been wrecked in the sea around the island.

Sri Lanka’s star shipwreck that lies off Batticaloa at a depth of 42 metres is the HMS Hermes, the first ship in any navy to be designed and built as an aircraft carrier. This was sunk by a Japanese air attack in April 1942 and placed Sri Lanka among other top Wreck Diving destinations. Tourism sources say about 30 divers will arrive in Sri Lanka to dive at this world famous shipwreck.

Other famous shipwrecks in Sri Lanka of interest to divers include Conch (Hikkaduwa), Earl of Shaftesbury (Hikkaduwa), SS Rangoon (Unawatuna), Colombo Cargo Wreck, Colombo Taprobane East Wreck, Colombo Barge and MV Cordiality (Pulmoddai).

Sri Lanka also has many ships sunk during the colonial era and a few even prior to that which are of enormous archaeological value.