COLOMBO, June 19 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka has unveiled its first ever underwater museum in the seas off Galle on the southern coast of the island country, local media reported on Friday.
The museum was constructed by naval officers under a proposal by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and it was constructed in Galle which is a large tourist attraction.
A statement from the navy said a large collection of artifacts and sculptures made by the navy has been placed in the museum and these unique sculptures have been produced from concrete and eco-friendly materials.
The museum will promote the formation of corals which will be an added beauty to the site. The whole underwater museum has been set at a depth of around 50 feet (15.2 meters) in the Galle harbor area, providing a unique sightseeing experience for anyone including children, adults, experienced divers, scuba beginners as well as swimmers, the navy said.
"The main aim of this project is to promote the regeneration of corals and fish breeding. It is very encouraging to see that the fish breeding has already started at this underwater museum site" the navy said.
"By the next season, it is certain that tourists will be able to dive in this area and the surrounding hotels will be able to add this site to their list of tourist attractions."
The underwater sculpture park is expected to contribute greatly to tourism in Sri Lanka, which is starting to thrive following the COVID-19 pandemic. Enditem
