Remains of Missing Navy Officer Recovered from Sunken Vessel

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Sri Lanka Navy has confirmed the recovery of remains believed to be those of the naval officer who had been reported missing following the maritime incident involving Fast Attack Craft P 4447 on August 15.

According to the Navy, the remains were recovered from the craft by naval divers this (4) morning after sea and underwater conditions became sufficiently safe to conduct specialized diving operations.

The vessel was located at a depth of approximately 80 feet beneath the surface, where visibility underwater was extremely poor. The operation was further complicated by the confined internal spaces of the sunken craft, making the recovery effort particularly challenging for the divers involved.

Following the incident, the Navy said its primary focus remained the search for the missing officer. While the other 11 personnel onboard were successfully rescued with the assistance of the Angulana Police and members of the local fishing community, extensive search operations continued for the missing officer across surrounding sea areas and along the coastline stretching from Panadura through Colombo to Chilaw.

The Navy also coordinated with the Sri Lanka Air Force and relevant agencies, deploying available maritime and aerial resources in support of the search effort.

At the same time, parallel operations were launched to locate and recover the distressed vessel. These efforts were repeatedly challenged by rough seas and difficult underwater conditions, which posed significant risks to diving and salvage teams. As a result, the Navy continuously assessed the operating environment and proceeded with specialized recovery operations only when conditions permitted safe deployment.

The recovery of the remains this (4) morning marks the conclusion of the search and recovery phase of the operation. The Navy stated that all necessary identification procedures, postmortem examinations, and other required formalities will now be carried out in accordance with established protocols.

Investigations into the circumstances surrounding the incident are continuing. The Navy has appointed an expert panel to determine the factors that led to the loss of the Fast Attack Craft and the disappearance of the officer.

Among the matters under examination are preliminary accounts provided by rescued personnel, which suggest the possibility that the craft may have come into contact with a submerged wreck in the area. However, the Navy emphasized that no definitive conclusions regarding the cause of the incident will be made until the investigation is fully completed.

Throughout the operation, the Navy maintained that its foremost priority was the recovery of the missing officer.

"The craft was an asset to be recovered. The missing officer was a life to be found," the Navy said, emphasizing that every available effort was directed toward locating the officer while ensuring that additional naval personnel were not exposed to unacceptable risks during underwater recovery efforts.

The Sri Lanka Navy reaffirmed its commitment to conducting a thorough and professional investigation into the incident and said further factual information will be released as appropriate as the inquiry progresses.