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Rediscovering Grumman TBF Avenger in deep waters of colombo
The re-discovery, identification and documentation of Grumman TBF Avenger’s wreck, lying off the coast of Bambalapitiya, by underwater explorers- Dharshana Jayawardena, Keerthi Karunaratne and Manjula Wijeyaratne, is a significant addition to our rich underwater heritage
BY RANDIMA ATTYGALLE
On a tip off by a fisherman in Dehiwala, tech-diver and underwater explorer Dharshana Jayawardena and two of his fellow divers – Keerthi Karunaratne, and Manjula Wijeyaratne arrived at a ‘mystery air crash site’ off the coast of Bambalapitiya early this year. Although they had doubts about the find, to their amazement, the three divers were greeted by a sunken aircraft in a very bad shape with only the wing box area, the starboard wing, what was left of the tail fin structure, the engine and the propeller. The air crash debris was lying 32 meters deep.
The search begins
The site characteristics matched the air crash site dived and described by pioneer divers such as Darrel Fryer and David Classz in the 1990s and Dharshana and his colleagues were confident that theirs was a rediscovery of the same site. “It was not easy to measure what was left of the craft as some its features were not particularly evident. But we gathered that radial engine had 14 cylinders and the approximate length from the leading edge of wing centerline to the presumed location of the tail to be 31 ft and 10 inches. Height of the aircraft however, was not measurable. Therefore, based on our measurements and observations we had to search for the candidate aircraft,” remarked Dharshana Jayawardena.
In their search for a matching aircraft, the trio also used Michael Tomlinson’s The Most Dangerous Moment as a reference to list out all the British and Japanese aircraft that participated and were lost in Ariel combat on April 5, 1942 or what is known as the ‘Easter Sunday attack of Ceylon’.
After eliminating some of the British and Japanese aircraft which were lost near Colombo during the World War II, the divers’ initial theory was that it was probably a Japanese VAL bomber lost during the attack. “The RAF (Royal Air Force) strategy during this battle was to focus more on the Japanese Aichi D3A VAL air-to-ground bombers rather than the Japanese Mitsubishi A6M Zero air-to-air combat fighters to minimize the damage of strategic land and sea assets,” explains Jayawardena.
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- The engine of the aircraft
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- Remains of the propeller
Possibility of an Avenger
Following the presentation of the explorers’ preliminary findings to the Sri Lanka Sub-Aqua Club and on suggestion by its founder member Dr. Malik Fernando, they reached out to David Classz who had supposedly dived to a sunken aircraft in the 1990s. The team was surprised the second time when Classz came up with a completely new aircraft to consider – American-made Grumman TBF Avenger. What was even more surprising was the absence of any reference to this type of an aircraft used in the account of the Easter Sunday attack in 1942 in Tomlinson’s book.
The Grumman TBF Avenger is an American World War II-era torpedo bomber developed for the US Navy and the Marine Corp. It entered service in 1942 and first saw action during the famous Battle of Midway. An interesting piece of trivia is that, the former American President George H.W. Bush, was an Avenger pilot and was shot down over the Pacific, an ordeal he survived unscathed before being rescued.
It was learnt that Classz together with Darrel Fryer and American diver Ulrich Earnst had dived the wreck of Grumman TBF Avenger in the 1990s when the aircraft was intact. “They had even got into the cockpit and Earnst had made an underwater video of the crash which was unfortunately lost with the passing of the diver. The dive team found out that some avengers (MKIII variants), had been used by RAF during the World War II and were sent to South India and Australia after the end of the war.
The dive team obtaining the measurements
Some were dumped in the sea when their lifespan was over although the locations of most of such ‘burial sites’ of avengers remain unknown. The naval air squadron 733 of the Royal Fleet arm which was based in Royal Navy Air Section of China Bay in Trincomalee also is reported to have operated Grumman Tarpon and Avenger MKIII aircraft.
The measurements of the aircraft at the crash site in Bambalapitiya matched those of the Grumman TBF Avenger with the Twin Cyclone engine. Specifically, a quite a unique engine characteristic, the width of the piston bore, was almost an exact match to that of the Avenger. Subsequently marine archaeologists from the US Naval History and Heritage Command, after an extensive analysis of the footage and photos provided by the dive team, confirmed that ‘these are likely the remains of a Grumman Avenger’.
It was communicated by the U.S. archaeologists that ‘in reviewing the video footage, the two pieces of evidence our subject matters experts were drawn to were the morphology of the port wing and the characteristics of the engine, both of which match nearly identically with that of an Avenger.’ However, they also note that there is still no sufficient information to suggest that the aircraft, though US-manufactured, was in the service of the U.S. Navy or another naval service at the time of the crash.
Underwater heritage
The wreck of the aircraft is in a very bad state of deterioration, says Jayawardena. It is suspected that the several parts of the aircraft have been illegally salvaged over the years. It is now a small artificial coral reef with several species of marine fish present. The dive team specifically observed a number of small groupers hiding within the wreck.
“The re-discovery, identification and documentation of this wreck is a significant addition to our rich underwater heritage. To date over 110 shipwrecks have been located around the shores of Sri Lanka and out of that, about ten are sunken aircraft,” says Jayawardena. A similar noteworthy underwater aircraft discovery made by Jayawardena was the discovery of a World War II RAF Squadron 321 (Dutch) Catalina Patrol Bomber off the shores of Passikudah in 2014. In addition, there are several other underwater remains of aircraft located in Katuneriya, Kalpitiya and the Trincomalee Harbour. “Unfortunately, most of these aircraft are in a very bad state of deterioration, otherwise they would have been a boon to Sri Lanka’s marine tourism,” concludes the underwater explorer.
(Photo credit: Manjula Wijeyaratne)
In a grand celebration of unity and tradition, Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo hosted an exclusive and elegant Iftar dinner at the prestigious King’s Court. This remarkable evening, hosted by Nazoomi Azhar, General Manager of Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo, brought together a distinguished gathering of ambassadors, key figures, top corporate executives, and esteemed members of the media.
The event showcased a spectacular array of culinary delights, with a highlight being the masterpieces crafted by renowned Pakistani Chef Riaz Bhatti. His exquisite creations, alongside an extensive selection of traditional and contemporary delicacies of Pakistani dishes, left guests in awe of the lavish spread and exceptional flavors.
Among the standout dishes of the evening were the rich and aromatic Mutton Raghni Josh, the flavorful Mutton Shahi Qorma, and the perfectly spiced Peshawari Beef Chapli Kabab. Guests also delighted in the Lahori Chicken Tikka Boti and the indulgent Chicken Peshawari Karahi, which added a taste of authenticity to the menu. The Iftar spread was further complemented by traditional desserts such as Gulab Jamun, Shahi Tukda, and Ras Malai, providing a sweet ending to the feast.
The atmosphere was one of warmth and hospitality, reflecting the spirit of Ramadan while offering a truly memorable experience. Guests were highly impressed with the impeccable service and the thoughtfully curated menu, making this Iftar dinner a standout occasion in Colombo’s social calendar.
Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo, under the leadership of Nazoomi Azhar, continues to set the benchmark for luxury hospitality, delivering unforgettable experiences through its commitment to excellence.
In the Republic of Turkiye women have been one of the building blocks in shaping Turkiye for centuries. However, especially since the founding of the Republic, Turkiye has been one of the leading countries in the world, especially in terms of the political visibility of women. Women were given the right to vote long before women were given political rights in many democratic and modern countries.
Turkish women are known for their unwavering determination and resilience. They exhibit remarkable dedication and courage in pursuing their goals and challenge injustice. Their hard work and perseverence contribute to their advancement of society. These statements were expressed by the Deputy Chief of Mission of Turkiye M/S Merve Goozde Otlu at the residence of the Turkish Ambassador in Sri Lanka, on the occasion of the International Women’s Day.
This day is also important for Turkish women, who have played a vital role in shaping Turkish society, from the early days of our Republic to the present said the Deputy Chief of Mission. In her speech she also pointed out that the founder of the Republic, Mustafia Kemal Ataturk, has an important place in the hearts of all Turkish people, but his visionary leadership for women’s rights are especially precious for all women of Turkiye.
Some of the guests
She explained “Ataturk strongly believed in women’s equality and emphasized that a modern and progressive society could only be achieved if women had equal opportunities as men’’
“Women were encouraged to participate in all areas of life, including education, work life and politics. One of the most remarkable steps Ataturk took was granting women the right to vote and as early as 1930, women were able to run for office at the local elections and in 1934 women were granted this right long before many other countries (One year after that, there were already 18 women MPs). When we look at Turkish history, we see countless inspiring women who have shaped our country, playing crucial roles achieving many milestones. These women have proved that Turkish women could achieve greatness in any field from science to business, from arts to sports, if given the opportunity, she remarked.
Turkish women have also made a significant contribution to diplomacy, a field often seen as male-dominated, she remarked.
Kanchana Rajapakse from embassy
For decades, Turkish women have been representing our country with strength and determination on the global stage. The first woman diplomat Mrs. Adile Ayda was recruited in 1932, while Ambassador Filiz Dinemen is the first woman Ambassador of Turkiye, assigned to the Hague in 1982.
Women representation has been increasing in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, constituting almost 40% of the Ministry.
It is a personal honour for me to serve in a country like Sri Lanka, which gave the world the first female Prime Minister in history, Sirimavo Bandaranaike, she said with pride.
Her leadership showed that women can take on the highest responsibility and be a driving force not just for women but for the whole society.
The contribution of women in Turkiye in the field of Science and Technology is far reaching. She said in Turkiye, a prominent scientist who worked for NASA, whose research was instrumental in the legendary 1962 Apollo mission. She is Dihlhan Eryunt, was the recipient of the NASA Appolo Achievement Awards she said with pride.
The First Secretary, Imren Kaygisiz said Turkish women who have contributed to the development of the country and thier enduring impact on society who are still continuing to inspire strength,resilience and success of women
The Commercial Counsellor M/s Gamze Erc an also paid tribute to the founder of Modern Republic of Turkiye, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk who gave importance to education of Turkish women and leader believed that development of a nation depends on a strong education foundation.
The evening had all the trappings of glamour followed by high tea.
The Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in sri Lanka hosted the International Women’s Day ceremony at thier residence.
Ambassador of Indonesia Dwi Gustina Tobing invited a large gathering of invitees including the Minister of Women and Child Affairs Saroja Savithri Paulraj who was the Chief Guest. CBL Group Managing Director Sheamalee Wickramasighe, popular musician Umaria Sinhawansa and Stephanie Siriwardena also addressed the gathering. The ambassador looking elegant was busy welcoming the guests at her residence.
An evening of camaraderie, glitz and glamour. The event featured an insightful session aimed to empower women, and served as a tribute to the commitment of women who has contributed immensely. The ambassador in her speech said by celebrating the achievements of women and amplifying their voices, we pave the way for a more inclusive and equitable society, where gender does not hinder opportunity but enriches collective experiences. Here is an excerpt from the ambassador’s speech.
A warm welcome to all of you. It is an honour to host this reception in commemoration of International Women’s Day 2025.
She said ” This year’s theme, “Accelerate Action”, is a powerful call to all of us. It underscores that equality cannot wait, and that all sectors of society must work together to speed up progress in women’s rights and empowerment.”
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- CBL group managing director Sheamalee addressing the gathering
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- Stephani and Umaria
Around the world, we have seen tremendous strides toward gender equality in politics, economics, and social spheres. Women are increasingly taking up leadership roles, contributing to economic growth, and shaping the future of our societies.
In Indonesia, we are proud of the progress we have made in advancing women’s participation. She said
She reiterated that 127 women were elected to parliament, making up 22.1% of the seats—the highest in our post-reform history. However, this is still below our target of 30%, which means there is room for improvement.
Our new cabinet includes 14 women, both as ministers and deputy ministers, demonstrating our commitment to gender-inclusive governance.
Ambassador welcoming Chief Guest Minister of Women and Child Affairs
Beyond politics, women are the backbone of Indonesia’s economy. Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) contribute over 60% to the national GDP, and 64.5% of these businesses are managed by women.
Additionally, Indonesia ranks among the top four countries globally for female business leaders
She pointed out Sri Lanka, too, has made significant strides in women’s empowerment. When I met with Minister Saroja Savithri Paulraj last week, we discussed the progress Sri Lanka has made in increasing women’s representation in politics and the economy. From women entrepreneurs driving economic growth to initiatives supporting women in leadership, Sri Lanka is showing a strong commitment to gender equality.
Many countries have made progress in advancing women’s empowerment, yet, despite this progress, we must recognize that challenges remain. Women still face barriers to equal pay, leadership opportunities, financial inclusion, and social mobility. Gender-based violence, discrimination, and unequal access to resources continue to hinder the advancement of women in many parts of the world.
This is why collaboration is crucial. By sharing experiences, policies, and best practices, we can accelerate meaningful action to bridge the gender gap.
We must continue working together, fostering partnerships that empower women economically and socially. Indonesia is committed to strengthening collaboration with Sri Lanka and other nations to create more opportunities for women, recognizing their immense importance. Invitees were able to enjoy authentic Indonesian delicacies specially curated by the Ambassador herself.
By Zanita Careem
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