Navy builds first indigenous waveless referee boat for Diyawanna Water Sports Centre

The Naval Boat Building Yard (NBBY) designed and built the country’s first waveless referee boat for rowing and canoeing events at the Navy Water Sports Centre in Diyawanna, Battaramulla. The locally built catamaran vessel was delivered to the centre in April 2026 and is currently in operational use.

Constructed by the NBBY, the project forms part of the Navy's Strategic Plan 2030 (NAVSTRAT-2030), which focuses on self-reliance, technological advancement, and local engineering capabilities. The facility operates under ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 45001:2019 certifications, holding an Environmental Protection Licence for emissions and waste management.

Designed and approved by the Directorate of Naval Design according to naval engineering standards, the boat underwent successful performance trials prior to deployment.

Rowing competitions require calm water conditions, as surface waves can affect competitor safety, timing accuracy, and race fairness. Designed as a high-stability catamaran, the boat minimizes wake generation when operating alongside rowers, providing a stable platform for race officials.

Carrying the hull number NC/WL/001, the boat measures 5.53 metres in length and 2.30 metres in width, with a draft of 0.16 metres and a total weight of 0.45 tonnes. Powered by a 25-horsepower petrol outboard engine, it has a maximum capacity of two persons.

The project marks an expansion of naval engineering capabilities into national sports infrastructure, demonstrating indigenous technical innovation within the service.