President Commissions Navy Ship
August 22, 2019"SLNS Parakramabahu" proudly joins SLN fleet
An Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) of the Sri Lanka Navy received its commission by President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Maithripala Sirisena during a Commissioning Ceremony held at the Colombo harbor, this evening (22nd Thursday, August 2019). The China gifted OPV joined the Navy's fleet, commissioned as 'SLNS Parakramabahu'.
Secretary to the Ministry of Defence General SHS Kottegoda (Rtd) WWV RWP RSP VSV usp was also present at the occasion.
The President was received by Commander of the Navy Vice Admiral Piyal De Silva upon his arrival at the Colombo Harbour and was accorded a guard of honour by Navy troops. Subsequently the President formally handed over the Commissioning Warrant to the Commanding Officer of the ship which was then read by him.
Later the President boarded the ship and unveiled the ship's crest and name board amidst the blessings of the religious dignitaries present at the occasion.
The President accompanied by the, Secretary Defence and Commander of the Navy made an inspection visit of the ship, "Parakramabahu". The Navy Commander briefed the President on the advanced features, modern facilities and hi-tech operational aspects of the new ship. The Commander of the Navy also presented a memento to the President to mark the occasion.
The ship with the Pennant No 625 is 112 m in length and 12.4m in width. It can travel at a maximum speed of 25 knots and has an endurance of 3500 nm at 18 knots.
The ship is a Type 053H2G Jiangwei -I (NATO Codename) class Frigate, built in 1988-1991 in Hudong Zhonghua Shipyard in Shanghai, China. She was commissioned in 1994 as Tongling under Pennant No 542 and was deployed for duties very effectively by the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN).
The ship has undergone a major refit and converted into an Offshore Patrol Vessel in Shanghai, China before being handed over to Sri Lanka. It was handed over to the country under the agreements between the Ministry of Defence of Sri Lanka and the Ministry of National Defence of China on the provisions of military assistance gratis. Agreement on donating the vessel to Sri Lanka Navy was signed on 13th October 2016. The total cost of the ship's modification is approximately USD 28. Million. It was officially handed over to the SLN on 05th June 2019 at the Naval Shipyard in Shanghai.
Members of the Maha Sangha and other religious denominations, Chinese Ambassador HE Mr. Cheng Xueyuan, senior state officials, Chief of Defence Staff, Commanders of the Army and Air Force, former navy commanders, members of the diplomatic corps, senior state officials, senior tri forces officers, distinguished invitees and a large number of naval personnel were also present at the commissioning ceremony
