Several top Navy brass to attend anniversary

by Ranil WIJAYAPALA

The Navy chiefs from Australia, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and UAE and the Chief of Maldivian Coast Guard are expected to arrive this week, to participate at the Diamond Jubilee celebrations of the Sri Lanka Navy which is to be held on December 9 in Colombo. Navy Commander Vice Admiral Thisara Samarasinghe said Navy Chiefs from Korea, Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia who were earlier expected to attend had to reverse their decision due to the uneasy situation in the North korean region.

Vice Admiral Russel Harry Crane, the Navy Chief of Australia, Vice Admiral Zahir Uddin Ahmed, Navy Chief of Bangladesh, Admiral Nirmal Verma, Navy Chief of India, Brigadier General Zakaria, Chief of the Maldivian Coast Guard, Admiral Noman Bashir, Navy Chief of Pakistan and Brigadier Ibrahim Sakim All-Masharrakh, Chief of Naval Staff of the United Arab Emirates have confirmed their participation at the celebrations this week.

The representatives from Canada, China, France, Indonesia, Iran, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand, UK and US will also participate including the maritime symposium on the theme ‘Sustainable Support for Safety and Security at Sea’ on December 8.

“The response from these countries to the invitation extended by Sri Lanka very clearly displays their interest, concern and the Navy to Navy solidarity”, Navy Commander said.

About 2,500 sailors and 300 to 400 officers from the foreign Navies will arrive for the celebrations.