Sixth foreign Navy to call over:

Korean warships on three-day visit

By Ranil WIJAYAPALA

The two ships "Kang Gam Chan" and "Chung Ji" docked at the Colombo port

The Commander of the Republic of Korea Training Task Group, Rear Admiral Choi Yangsun handing over special gifts organised by the Republic of Korea Red Cross to a Sri Lanka Red Cross representative on board "Kang Gam Chan". Korean Ambassador Sri Lanka Chi Jong Moon is also in the pictur Pix : Thilak Perera

The friendly Naval relationship between Sri Lanka and the Republic of Korea enhanced once again when two Korean made Navy ships "Kang Gam Chan", a destroyer and "Chun-Ji", a fast combat support ship engaged in Cruise Training Task Force, called at the Colombo Port last Thursday on a three day visit.

The arrival marks the sixth foreign Navy to call at the Colombo port this year, exhibiting the Naval relationship with Sri Lanka, during their training and other regional missions.

According to Sri Lanka Navy, eight Naval ships belonging to Indonesia, Thailand, Japan, Pakistan and Turkey had called at the Colombo port this year.

The Tukish Navy ship “TCG GEMLIK” was the first to arrive at the Colombo Port on September 5, 2011 and was also the first Turkish Navy ship to arrive in Sri Lanka after a lapse of 112 years.

Indian Naval ships called at the Trincomalee port in May this year, in time for the Sri Lanka India Maritime Exercise, SLINEX which strengthened the existing relationship between the two neighbouring navies.

The Korean-designed stealth destroyer "Kang Gam Chan" and the fast combat support ship "Chung-Ji" on a Cruise Training Task Group arrived at the Colombo port on a three day visit, under the command of Rear Admiral Choi Yangsun and was ceremonially welcomed by the Sri Lanka Navy.

"Gang Gam Chan" is a destroyer with a displacement of 5,518 tons. It is 149.5 meters in length and was commanded by Captain Kim Jung–Soo. "Chun Ji" (AOH-57) is a Logistic Support Ship with a displacement of 9,113 tons. It is 133.67 meters in length and commanded by Captain Kim Hae–Nam.

The Korean Cruise Training Task Group had a staff of 620 crew members including 129 midshipmen and they are scheduled to call on ten ports in ten countries, such as Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Italy, France, Greece, India, Malaysia and Japan, during their 95 day training programme. The Port of Colombo is the second port of call by the Cruise Training Task Group and they will call on Jeddah Port in Saudi Arabia next.

According to Rear Admiral Choi Yangsun, the Republic of Korea Navy Cruise Training Task Group has a proud history of 58 years since 1954 and aims to provide practical and systematic onboard education for the midshipmen while widening their international perspective, building friendship with visiting countries.

“This is our fifth visit to Sri Lanka since our first visit in 1977,” Rear Admiral Choi Yangsun said addressing the Sri Lankan media personnel on board "Gang Gam Chan" on Thursday.

“Sri Lanka and Korea maintains good relationship and this visit will further enhance the relationship between the two countries,” the Rear Admiral said recalling the visits made by former Navy commanders to Korea to enhance Naval relationship between the two countries.

Two Sri Lankan Naval Officers will also be on board ROKS Kang Gamchan and Chungji to experience the Korean naval ship during their voyage to Jeddah port in Saudi Arabia.

“Two Sri Lankan Naval officers will build and lay the friendship between the two countries”, he added.

“This is an opportunity for the Korea and Sri Lanka to benefit from the growing advance defence industry in Korea,” he added.

The Republic of Korea has a strong Navy and also engaged industry including the warships and most of the war ships they are using at present are built in Korea itself.

An exhibition depicting the Republic of Korea Navy was also held on board "Chung-Ji". Korean Ambassador to Sri Lanka Choi Jong-Moon and the Korean community living in Sri Lanka also participated at the ceremony to welcome the two ships.

Commander of the CTTG accompanied by Ships’ Commanding Officers paid a courtesy call on Director General Operations of the Sri Lanka Navy Rear Admiral Jayantha Perera at the Naval Headquarters in Colombo and held cordial discussions and exchanged mementos as a gesture of goodwill.

Medical officers and crew of the Task Group also visited the Vajira Sri Rehabilitation Children's Home in Colombo and the Sri Lanka Red Cross on October 6 for voluntary work and to deliver special gifts arranged by the Republic of Korea Red Cross. After a stay of three-days the two ships sailed towards the next Port of Call, Jeddah in Saudi Arabia yesterday at 10 a.m.