Godawaya Shipwreck Exhibition Opens At BMICH

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Godawaya Shipwreck Exhibition opened at the BMICH in Colombo.

The event was opened by U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung and Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious, and Cultural Affairs, Dr. Hiniduma Sunil Senevi, together with the Central Cultural Fund’s Maritime Archaeology Unit (MAU).  

The event marked the culmination of the multi-year Godawaya Shipwreck Project, funded through the U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP), a U.S.–Sri Lanka partnership to preserve the oldest known wooden shipwreck in the Asia-Pacific region, dating back over 2,100 years.

By documenting and conserving artifacts from this ancient trading vessel, the initiative demonstrates how the two countries are working together to safeguard heritage, strengthen Indo-Pacific ties, and build a foundation for shared security and open commerce.  

Ambassador Chung underscored the project’s significance, stating: “Maritime heritage is a story of connection — and today’s U.S.–Sri Lanka partnership continues that legacy. From ports to people, we are Indo-Pacific partners working together to safeguard security, ensure open commerce, and protect the futures of our nations. The Godawaya shipwreck is a reminder that secure sea lanes have powered prosperity for centuries and remain vital to both American and Sri Lankan interests today.”

The exhibition will be open to the public from 11:00 a.m. on September 3, and from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on September 4 and 5.

Visitors can explore artifacts recovered from the shipwreck, including pottery, grinding stones, glass and metal ingots, and carnelian beads.

These discoveries not only reveal the vessel’s role as a trading ship but also underscore Sri Lanka’s historic position as a hub of Indian Ocean trade and cultural exchange — and the continuing importance of maritime security to regional prosperity.

The Godawaya Shipwreck Preservation Project, initiated in 2022, has achieved remarkable milestones in maritime archaeology.

Through AFCP funding, the MAU has safeguarded nearly 200 artifacts unearthed from the wreck, employed advanced 3D modeling techniques for site surveying, and developed a comprehensive 3D model of the shipwreck site.

These efforts have revolutionized maritime archaeology in Sri Lanka and set a global standard for underwater cultural heritage preservation. The artifacts will be permanently housed at the Maritime Archaeology Museum in Galle, with an AFCP-supported education program bringing the story of the shipwreck to local schools.

About the Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP):

Since 2001, AFCP has supported more than 1,300 projects worldwide, including 17 in Sri Lanka totaling over $1.3 million, preserving archaeological sites, historic buildings, museum collections, and cultural traditions.

About the Maritime Archaeology Unit (MAU):

Established in 2001 under the Central Cultural Fund, the MAU safeguards Sri Lanka’s underwater cultural heritage through research, conservation, and training.