Naval and Maritime Symposium:

Other countries follow our Navy’s footsteps - Minister

Dinesh DE ALWIS

The strategies adopted by the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) to defeat LTTE terrorists are being followed by other countries, said External Affairs Minister Prof G L Peiris.

He was delivering the keynote address at the Naval and Maritime Symposium organized by the SLN parallel to its 60th Anniversary at the SLN headquarters, Colombo yesterday.

The theme of the symposium was Sustainable Support for Safety Security at Sea (S5).

He added that some countries are still wondering how the Navy had accomplished this task with limited resources. “Those countries are focusing on this and are following the SLN strategies. Overall leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa’s guidance greatly helped wipe out terrorism,” the Minister said. The degree of humanity of the SLN was the critical factor for this victory.

The SLN focusing on the resettlement process, should continue its humanitarian activities, he said.

”Every terrorist group has connections and links with other terrorist groups in the world. But due to SLN intervention, that network was broken. In the years ahead, the Navy will have to contribute in the country’s development process by assisting the fisheries industry, mineral deposit drilling and guarding the coast,” he said.

The Sri Lanka Navy will move forward sharing the experience and knowledge with other countries, Navy Commander Vice Admiral Thisara Samarasinghe told the symposium.

Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, Chief of Defence Staff and Air Force Commander Air Marshal Roshan Gunathilaka, Army Commander Major General Jagath Jayasuriya,Inspector General of Police Mahinda Balasuriya, External Affairs Ministry Secretary Romesh Jayasinghe and Navy Commanders of UAE,Thailand and Bangladesh and representatives of several Navies were present.

Eight foreign Naval ships here

Eight Naval ships from Bangladesh, China, Iran, India, Pakistan, Russia and Thailand arrived in Sri Lanka yesterday. They are here to participate in the Sri Lanka Navy’s 60th anniversary celebrations. These ships will participate in the International Fleet Review and International Sail Past.

The Sri Lanka Navy ceremonially welcomed the ships at the Colombo harbour. The Presidential Fleet Review held to mark the Sri Lanka Navy’s Diamond jubilee will be held today in the seas off Galle Face where a ceremony to award Presidential colours to the Sri Lanka Navy Fleet will be held.