Sri Lanka Navy divers have recovered human remains suspected to be those of the officer who went missing following the maritime incident involving Fast Attack Craft P 4447 on August 15.
The Navy announced that the remains were recovered from the vessel on the morning of September 4.
P 4447 is lying at a depth of approximately 80 feet.
According to the Navy, difficult sea conditions, extremely poor underwater visibility and the confined internal spaces of the vessel complicated the recovery operation.
Specialised naval diving operations were carried out when conditions allowed the work to proceed safely.
The Navy said that following the August 15 incident, recovering the missing officer remained a primary focus of its operation.
The discovery marks an important development in the recovery effort.
However, the Navy's official statement describes the remains as "suspected to be" those of the missing officer.
Accordingly, Sineth News must not report the identity as confirmed until formal identification is announced by the appropriate authority.