India-Sri Lanka Navies maintain strong bonds - Navy Commander
Sandasen MARASINGHE
The Naval forces of India and Sri Lanka are maintaining excellent
relationship which is needed to strengthen the security of both the
countries and in the region, Navy Commander Vice Admiral Thisara
Samarasinghe said yesterday.
The Navy Commander made this statement to the media after his
official visit to the Indian Naval Ship Tharangani, a sail training ship
anchored at the Colombo Port.
This ship arrived in Sri Lanka on a five day goodwill visit along
with three other ships INS Tir, INS Shardul and ICGS Varuna on October
10. Immediately after the Navy Commander’s visit, the 54 metre long INS
Tharangani launched a special training for 25 Sri Lanka Navy midshipmen
in the western seas of Colombo. They were expected to undergo practical
training in handling a sail ship. The Navy Commander also told the media
that this training session on board the sail ship is a unique experience
to the Sri Lanka Navy officer cadets.
“Sailing with the wind would build seamanship, leadership and
character in the trainees,” the Navy Commander said. Recalling his past
experiences he said that he also received the same experience some 35
years back in England.
The other three Indian Naval Training Ships with the Sri Lanka Navy
officer trainees on board commenced sailing from the Port of Trincomalee
on October 10 and reached Colombo yesterday. The trainees underwent
practical training on a range of Naval subjects including seamanship,
communication, coastal navigation, life saving, replenishment at sea,
fire fighting and damage control, anchoring and a host of other
exercises.
The Navy Commander thanked the Indian Government, Indian Navy on
behalf of the Sri Lanka Navy, the Sri Lanka Government and the Defence
Secretary for providing this opportunity for the SLN officer cadets on
request.
The Indian Naval Ship Tir Captain Sanjeev Issar told the media that
these types of training sessions build the relationship between the
Navies of the two countries.
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