The Sri Lanka Navy has recovered remains suspected to be those of the officer who went missing following the maritime incident involving Fast Attack Craft P 4447 on August 15.
Naval divers recovered the remains from the vessel this morning (September 4), after sea and underwater conditions allowed specialized diving operations to be conducted safely.
The craft was located at a depth of approximately 80 feet, where poor underwater visibility and confined spaces inside the vessel made the recovery operation challenging.
Following the incident, 11 of the 12 personnel on board were rescued with the assistance of the Angulana Police and local fishing community. The Navy subsequently conducted an extensive search for the missing officer across surrounding sea areas and along the coastline from Panadura through Colombo to Chilaw.
The Navy also coordinated with the Sri Lanka Air Force and other relevant agencies and deployed maritime and aerial resources during the search operation.
The recovery of the remains marks the conclusion of the search and recovery phase. The Navy said postmortem, identification and other required procedures will now be carried out.
Meanwhile, an investigation is continuing into the circumstances surrounding the incident. An expert panel has been appointed to determine the factors that led to the loss of the craft and the disappearance of the officer.
The Navy said reports from rescued personnel regarding possible contact with a submerged wreck in the area are among the matters being examined. However, no definitive conclusion will be made on the cause of the incident until the investigation is completed.
The Navy said it had prioritized the recovery of the missing officer while ensuring that personnel involved in the underwater operations were not exposed to unacceptable risks.
