Navy help for oil exploration

Dinesh DE ALWIS

The Sri Lanka Navy will help in the oil exploration activities here, Navy Commander Vice Admiral Thisara Samarasinghe told a media briefing at the Naval Headquarters, Colombo yesterday.

The Navy has to increase not only manpower but also has to enhance infrastructure facilities, material and latest technology, he said.

Plans are underway to acquire several ships and six Fast Attack Craft for transportation and deep sea surveillance.

Four have already arrived and two craft will arrive soon, he said.

“We will have a discussion with the Fisheries Ministry and launch a program to help fishermen. Fast Attack Craft will be deployed to assist the fishermen,” the Navy Commander said.