Navy’s second AOPV arrives at Colombo port

The second Advanced Offshore Patrol Vessel (AOPV) constructed at the Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) for the mission requirement of the Sri Lanka Navy, arrived at the Colombo harbour yesterday, Navy said. Upon its arrival at the harbour premises, the brand-new vessel was warmly received in compliance with rich naval traditions.

The ship that would become the latest inclusion to the SLN fleet, is commanded by Captain (ASW) Saman Perera and its crew consists of 18 officers and 100 sailors. Meanwhile, the ship’s maiden voyage from India to Sri Lanka was carried out under the supervision of Commodore Ananda Guruge.

Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Sirimevan Ranasinghe, Deputy Chief of Staff and Director General Operations of the Navy, Rear Admiral Piyal De Silva, Commander Western Naval Area, Rear Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne, Naval Secretary and Secretary to the Commander of the Navy, Rear Admiral Vijitha Meddegoda, Director Naval Operations, Commodore Sanjeewa Dias and a group of senior naval officers from the Western Naval Command were present on the occasion to receive this brand-new vessel.

Subsequently, Commander of the Navy made an inspection visit onboard ship and supervised the functional and operational aspects of the new AOPV. Meanwhile, the ship is due to receive its auspicious commissioning from the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, His Excellency Maithripala Sirisena in due course.

Chief of Staff of Sri Lanka Navy, Rear Admiral Neil Rosayro took the official delivery of this state of the art ship at the GSL on 23 March, during a ceremony presided over by the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in India, H. E. (Mrs.) Chitranganee Wagiswara.

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