 Larger oceangoing vessels coming from the West have had to navigate around Sri Lanka to reach India' eastern coast.Eminent British geographer Major James Rennell surveyed the region in late 18th century; he suggested that a "navigable passage could be maintained by dredging of the Ramisseram [sic]".Little notice was given to his proposal, perhaps because it came from "so young and an unknown officer", and the idea was only revived 60 years later.