• The ship dates back to the period between 02BC and 02AD
• It had sunk in the deep sea about three kilometres off Godawaya 
• It was recovered by a team of local divers during an exploration in 2013
• the country of origin of the ship is yet to be established

By D.G.Sugathapala   

The oldest ship in South-East Asia that sank in the sea  off Godawaya in Hambantota is to be conserved under a project funded by  the USA.  

US Ambassador in Sri Lanka Julie Chung yesterday donated US$  82,900 to the Central Cultural Fund at the Marine Museum in Galle to  implement the project.   

The ship dates back to the period between 02BC and 02AD and had sunk in the deep sea about three kilometres off Godawaya and had been  recovered by a team of local divers during an exploration in 2013.   

However, the country of origin of the ship is yet to be established.  

Secretary to the Ministry of Buddhist and Cultural Affairs  Somaratne Vidana Pathirana, Director General of the CCF Prof. Gamini  Ranasinghe, Senior Archaeological Officer Rasika Mutukumarana and several  senior officials were present at the occasion.