COLOMBO TO BERUWALA POINT

General information

Route
 
From a position WSW of Beruwala Point (6deg 28.24min N 79deg 58.40min E) the route leads about 29 miles NNW to a position WSW of Colombo Port City thence about 10 miles N to a position WNW of Colombo.

Topography
 
The coast between Beruwala Point and Colombo Port City is generally low and straight with sandy beaches backed by dense groves of coconut trees. However, near the Galle face area numerous  high rise buildings can be identified.  The hinterland is densely wooded and there are numerous towns and villages. Several stone-coloured railway stations are prominent, during afternoon. sunlight, on the edge of the beach along the N part of the coast. South of Colombo Port City a narrow ridge of rock about 6 miles long, having the appearance of a barrier reef which is awash in places, lies about 1 cable offshore.  

Depth
 
Seaward of the 50 m depth contour, there are no charted dangers. Numerous dangers, some of which are marked by breakers, exist within the 20 m contour: many are steep-to and soundings give no warning of approach to them.
Along this stretch of coast, any vessels not inbound for port or anchorages should remain outside the 50m contour.

Hazards
 
Wrecks and obstructions. 
Numerous dangerous wrecks and obstructions, many with positions approximate, lie in these waters: their positions are best seen on the chart.

Exercise areas
 
Naval gun firing and underwater test firing area, established for the practice firing of main armaments of ships/crafts and for test firing of underwater weapons at sea. Which is centered on 6deg 42.50min N 79deg 32.0min E.

Fishing
Many small fishing craft may be encountered along this coast. 

Natural conditions 
 
Currents are subject to large changes in set and rate during the course of a year, In the approaches to Colombo the current is variable, its rate seldom exceeding 0.5 kn, but near the shoal water, it usually sets N at a rate of 1.5kn during the NE monsoon.

Directions
 
Principal marks

Temple (white dome) (6deg 35.22min N 79deg 57.61min E) the dome is floodlit and a fixed White light is exhibited from its top.
Kings Church (red square tower) (6deg 47.21min N 79deg 52.96min E) A conspicuous grey water tower stands 5 cables ESE.
Mount Lavinia Hotel (6deg 50.0min N 79deg 51.71min E) a large white building standing on a rocky point: behind the hotel, the land rises to form a dark background making the hotel visible, in a favorable light condition, up to 12 miles offshore. 
Colombo Town Hall (6deg 54.95min N 79deg 51.82min E) a building with a white dome
Galle Face Hotel (6deg 55.220min N 79deg 50.773min E) a large red building standing on the coast SW of Slave Island
Colombo Lighthouse (6deg 56.18min N 79deg 50.45min E)
 

Major lights:

Barberyn Light (6deg 27.80min N 79deg 58.10min E)
Colombo Light as (6deg 56.18min N 79deg 50.45min E)

Passage

From a position WSW of Beruwala Point (6deg 28.24min N 79deg 58.40min E), the route leads NNW passing WSW of Maggona Point (6deg 30.36min N 79deg 58.58min E) a point fronting a village of the same name.
WSW of Panadura (6deg 42.31min N 79deg 54.45min E), thence: WSW of the town of Moratuwa (6deg 47.28min N 79deg 53.11min E), then WSW of an 17 m shoal patch (6deg 52.91min N 79deg 42.42min E), Thence 
from a position WSW of the curved breakwater protecting the Colombo Port City Project development area , the route leads N passing W of a restricted area encompassing an SEM (6dig58.70minN 79dig46.61minE), and W of shoal bank (6deg 58.46min N 79deg 40.98min E), with a least depth of 17.5 m. The track then leads to a position WNW of Colombo Harbour

Useful marks:

Weragela Kanda (6dig31.22minN 79dig59.74minE) a hill surmounted by a white pagoda
Gona Gala (6deg 42.31min N 79deg 53.34min E), the outer of two round-topped rooks
Ratmalana Aero Light (6deg 49.27min N 79deg 53.36min E). exhibited from the airfield control tower Point




