Navy discovers wreckage of passenger ferry ‘Valampuri’

Sri Lanka Navy divers have discovered the wreckage of the passenger ferry ‘Valampuri’ which was destroyed by a LTTE suicide boat in 1998 in the seas off Point Pedro yesterday.

The Navy said on information received from a civilian diver, a fresh underwater search was carried out by the Navy divers on Monday (October 3). During the search the wreckage of the passenger ferry was located 8 nautical miles North of Point Pedro at a depth of 15 meters.

“Valampuri” was destroyed on 23rd February 1998 by an explosive laden LTTE boat which rammed the ferry at a high speed when it was returning from Trincomalee some 15 kilometers north east of Point Pedro.

The attack claimed the lives of 20 naval personnel and left no survivors. The attempts to search the vessel were not successful due to rough sea conditions and the volatile security conditions prevailed during that time.

The wreck is lying on the sea bed for years and one fifth of keel is buried under the sand. The wreck is covered completely with a distinct level of marine growth and it has become a very good ground for fish breeding.