Sri Lanka Navy recovers remains of officer from sunken attack craft

The Sri Lanka Navy has recovered the remains of Lieutenant Udayapriya, the second-in-command officer who went missing following a maritime accident involving Fast Attack Craft P 4447 on August 15.

The incident occurred approximately 3 km off the Angulana coastline near Moratuwa while twelve naval personnel were returning to Colombo from a patrol. While eleven personnel were rescued from the water with assistance from the Angulana Police and local fishing community, the craft eventually sank to a depth of approximately 75 to 80 feet after a vacuum system malfunctioned during an attempt to tow it.

Naval divers located the sunken craft and the officer's body after 20 days of search operations, which were frequently hampered by rough seas and limited underwater visibility. The Navy stated that the recovery marks the conclusion of the search and recovery phase. An expert panel has been appointed to investigate the cause of the accident, including preliminary reports suggesting the craft may have made contact with a submerged wreck.