President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday (Aug 22) commissioned a P-625 ship accquired from China in a bid to enhance maritime security along with search and rescue operations.
According to the Navy, the ship which had been built in 1991, is 112 metres long and 12.4 metres wide and has a maximum speed of 25 knots with a displacement of 2300 tonnes.
The ship has been equipped with weapons, communications, facilities for naval aviation, and other operating systems and would consist of 18 officers and 92 sailors as its crew.
Religious dignitaries, Chinese Ambassador Cheng Xueyuan, Chief of Defence Staff Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne, and the tri-forces chiefs were among those in attendance at the event.
Earlier this month, Sri Lanka had undertaken the lead role in assessing the progress of Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) countries in the regional body's two-year work plan on maritime security.
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A Sri Lanka Air Force Bell 212 helicopter belonging to the No. 72 squadron has crashed into the Madhuru Oya reservoir this morning, Air FOrce Media Spokesman Eranda Geeganage said.
Update: Five of the twelve passengers on board the bell 212 aircraft that crashed into the Maduru Oya today, have succumbed to their injuries, the SLAF said.
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