{"id":7399,"date":"2025-08-11T08:28:44","date_gmt":"2025-08-11T08:28:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ccf.gov.lk\/web\/?p=7399"},"modified":"2025-08-11T08:28:44","modified_gmt":"2025-08-11T08:28:44","slug":"sri-lanka-resumes-eastern-coast-underwater-archaeological-expeditions-after-four-year-pause","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ccf.gov.lk\/web\/sri-lanka-resumes-eastern-coast-underwater-archaeological-expeditions-after-four-year-pause\/","title":{"rendered":"Sri Lanka Resumes Eastern Coast Underwater Archaeological Expeditions After Four-Year Pause"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The Galle Maritime Archaeology Unit has been conducting underwater archaeological research along Sri Lanka\u2019s eastern coastline since 2011. These expeditions began following the end of the northern and eastern armed conflicts, when security and transport facilities in those regions were restored. Initial work was launched in the Trincomalee area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By 2012, exploration and diving operations were carried out in the Vakarei and Pasikudah regions to locate sunken ships. These efforts uncovered valuable information on several vessels that sank during World War II.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Research along the extensive eastern coastline, stretching from Panama to Kuchchaveli, was supported by the Sri Lanka Navy, local divers, and fishing communities. Each operation typically spanned a period of four to six weeks annually.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After a four-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, underwater archaeological activities in the eastern seas resumed in 2025. To date, 22 sunken ships and four aircraft wrecks have been discovered in the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This year\u2019s expedition, covering the maritime zones of Vakarei, Kayankeni, Pasikudah, and Kalkudah, will run from July 25 to August 20, 2025. The mission aims to uncover and preserve historically significant heritage in the eastern marine environment, making a valuable contribution to the field of archaeology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" data-id=\"7400\" src=\"https:\/\/ccf.gov.lk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/528133320_1074730734808499_7126484043275757475_n-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ccf.gov.lk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/528133320_1074730734808499_7126484043275757475_n-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ccf.gov.lk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/528133320_1074730734808499_7126484043275757475_n-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ccf.gov.lk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/528133320_1074730734808499_7126484043275757475_n-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/ccf.gov.lk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/528133320_1074730734808499_7126484043275757475_n-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/ccf.gov.lk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/528133320_1074730734808499_7126484043275757475_n.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" data-id=\"7401\" src=\"https:\/\/ccf.gov.lk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/528128494_1074730708141835_5733813568719260441_n-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7401\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ccf.gov.lk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/528128494_1074730708141835_5733813568719260441_n-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ccf.gov.lk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/528128494_1074730708141835_5733813568719260441_n-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ccf.gov.lk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/528128494_1074730708141835_5733813568719260441_n-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/ccf.gov.lk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/528128494_1074730708141835_5733813568719260441_n-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/ccf.gov.lk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/528128494_1074730708141835_5733813568719260441_n-1536x1023.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/ccf.gov.lk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/528128494_1074730708141835_5733813568719260441_n.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"678\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"7402\" src=\"https:\/\/ccf.gov.lk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/528046180_1074730604808512_5691571918866788172_n-678x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7402\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ccf.gov.lk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/528046180_1074730604808512_5691571918866788172_n-678x1024.jpg 678w, https:\/\/ccf.gov.lk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/528046180_1074730604808512_5691571918866788172_n-199x300.jpg 199w, https:\/\/ccf.gov.lk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/528046180_1074730604808512_5691571918866788172_n.jpg 1059w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 678px) 100vw, 678px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"678\" data-id=\"7403\" src=\"https:\/\/ccf.gov.lk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/528057959_1074730558141850_7206410868588374310_n-1024x678.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7403\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ccf.gov.lk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/528057959_1074730558141850_7206410868588374310_n-1024x678.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ccf.gov.lk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/528057959_1074730558141850_7206410868588374310_n-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ccf.gov.lk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/528057959_1074730558141850_7206410868588374310_n.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" data-id=\"7404\" src=\"https:\/\/ccf.gov.lk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/527397290_1074730654808507_5330661035636554410_n-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7404\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ccf.gov.lk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/527397290_1074730654808507_5330661035636554410_n-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ccf.gov.lk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/527397290_1074730654808507_5330661035636554410_n-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ccf.gov.lk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/527397290_1074730654808507_5330661035636554410_n-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/ccf.gov.lk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/527397290_1074730654808507_5330661035636554410_n-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/ccf.gov.lk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/527397290_1074730654808507_5330661035636554410_n.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Galle Maritime Archaeology Unit has been conducting underwater archaeological research along Sri Lanka\u2019s eastern coastline since 2011. These expeditions began following the end of the northern and eastern armed conflicts, when security and transport facilities in those regions were restored. Initial work was launched in the Trincomalee area. By 2012, exploration and diving operations &hellip; <\/p>\n<p class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/ccf.gov.lk\/web\/sri-lanka-resumes-eastern-coast-underwater-archaeological-expeditions-after-four-year-pause\/\" class=\"more-link\">Read more<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;Sri Lanka Resumes Eastern Coast Underwater Archaeological Expeditions After Four-Year Pause&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7401,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[42],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7399","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"featured_media_urls":{"thumbnail":["https:\/\/ccf.gov.lk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/528128494_1074730708141835_5733813568719260441_n-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/ccf.gov.lk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/528128494_1074730708141835_5733813568719260441_n-300x200.jpg",300,200,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/ccf.gov.lk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/528128494_1074730708141835_5733813568719260441_n.jpg",768,512,false],"large":["https:\/\/ccf.gov.lk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/528128494_1074730708141835_5733813568719260441_n-1024x682.jpg",950,633,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/ccf.gov.lk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/528128494_1074730708141835_5733813568719260441_n-1536x1023.jpg",1536,1023,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/ccf.gov.lk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/528128494_1074730708141835_5733813568719260441_n.jpg",1600,1066,false],"inspiro-featured-image":["https:\/\/ccf.gov.lk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/528128494_1074730708141835_5733813568719260441_n.jpg",1600,1066,false],"inspiro-loop":["https:\/\/ccf.gov.lk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/528128494_1074730708141835_5733813568719260441_n-950x320.jpg",950,320,true],"inspiro-loop@2x":["https:\/\/ccf.gov.lk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/528128494_1074730708141835_5733813568719260441_n-1600x640.jpg",1600,640,true],"portfolio_item-thumbnail":["https:\/\/ccf.gov.lk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/528128494_1074730708141835_5733813568719260441_n-600x400.jpg",600,400,true],"portfolio_item-thumbnail@2x":["https:\/\/ccf.gov.lk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/528128494_1074730708141835_5733813568719260441_n-1200x800.jpg",1200,800,true],"portfolio_item-masonry":["https:\/\/ccf.gov.lk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/528128494_1074730708141835_5733813568719260441_n-600x400.jpg",600,400,true],"portfolio_item-masonry@2x":["https:\/\/ccf.gov.lk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/528128494_1074730708141835_5733813568719260441_n-1200x800.jpg",1200,800,true],"portfolio_item-thumbnail_cinema":["https:\/\/ccf.gov.lk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/528128494_1074730708141835_5733813568719260441_n-800x335.jpg",800,335,true],"portfolio_item-thumbnail_portrait":["https:\/\/ccf.gov.lk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/528128494_1074730708141835_5733813568719260441_n-600x900.jpg",600,900,true],"portfolio_item-thumbnail_portrait@2x":["https:\/\/ccf.gov.lk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/528128494_1074730708141835_5733813568719260441_n-1200x1066.jpg",1200,1066,true],"portfolio_item-thumbnail_square":["https:\/\/ccf.gov.lk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/528128494_1074730708141835_5733813568719260441_n-800x800.jpg",800,800,true]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ccf.gov.lk\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7399","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ccf.gov.lk\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ccf.gov.lk\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ccf.gov.lk\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ccf.gov.lk\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7399"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/ccf.gov.lk\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7399\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7406,"href":"https:\/\/ccf.gov.lk\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7399\/revisions\/7406"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ccf.gov.lk\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7401"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ccf.gov.lk\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7399"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ccf.gov.lk\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7399"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ccf.gov.lk\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7399"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}