COLOMBO, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- A massive whale washed ashore and died off the coast of Sri Lankan capital Colombo Tuesday morning.

Witnesses said the whale was still alive when it was found near the beach in the Wellawatte district of Colombo about 10 a.m. (0430 GMT), but the huge mammal died quickly.

Experts say the whale, about eight meters in length, might have been seriously wounded at sea before it was washed ashore.

Officials from the Fisheries Ministry said they will investigate what had happened to the whale.

Sri Lanka is situated within the International Whaling Commission's protected zone in the Indian Ocean.

Whales, including Blue Whales, Fin Whales, Minke Whales and Killer Whales can be watched regularly off the island country's coast.