President commissions first ever Sri Lankan naval AOPV vessel

The Sri Lanka Navy’s first Advanced Offshore Patrol Vessel (AOPV), built at the Indian shipbuilding facility, Goa Shipyard Ltd (GSL), was commissioned by the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Colombo on August 04,2017.

Several religious and political dignitaries along with high ranking officials from the Navy were in attendance at the ceremony which had much grandeur and historical significance. Flag Officer Commander in Chief Southern Naval Command-Indian Navy, Vice Admiral AR Karve was a notable attendee to the event.

The president was welcomed to the port with a guard of honour and proceeded onto bestow the ships commanding officer, Captain (N) Nishantha Amarosa with the commission warrant to the vessel who in turn read out the pledge of warrant binding him in duty to safeguard the interests of the nation.

The SLNS Sayurala which is the first ever brand new platform, purchased from a foreign ship builder, holds the record for the largest vessel built by an Indian shipbuilder for a foreign navy to date. The brand new state of the art AOPV arrived at the port of Colombo on 28th July.

The acquisition of the SLNS Sayurala will benefit the naval capacity of the nation to great accord.