First Sri Lanka Coast Guard Offshore Patrol Vessel commissioned by State Minister Wijewardane

First Sri Lanka Coast Guard Offshore Patrol Vessel commissioned by
State Minister Wijewardane

[October 22
2017]

The State Minister of Defence, Hon. Ruwan Wijewardene
commissioned the Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV), CG 60, as Sri Lanka Coast
Guard Ship ‘Suraksha' at a ceremony held at the Colombo Harbour on
Saturday (21 October).

Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Mr. Kapila
Waidyaratne PC was also present at the Commissioning Ceremony held last
evening.

Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Travis Sinniah and
Director General of the Sri Lanka Coast Guard, Rear Admiral Samantha
Wimalathunga received the guests upon their arrival at the venue.

The 74.10 m long OPV earlier belonged to the Indian
Coast Guard and was officially gifted to Sri Lanka in September (2017).

The State Minister handed over the Commissioning
Warrant to the ship's Commanding Officer which was then read by him.
Thereafter, the State Minister got onboard the ship and unveiled the
Commissioning Pennant of the ship amidst the blessings of the religious
dignitaries present.

SLCG Suraksha is manned by a crew of 14 officers and
86 sailors. With a displacement of 1,160 tons, the OPV can sail at a
speed of 22 nautical miles per hour. The 11.40 m wide vessel can cover a
distance of 8,500 nm maintaining a speed of 16 nautical miles per hour.

Members of the Maha Sangha and other religious
dignitaries, High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, HE Shri Taranjit
Singh Sandhu, Secretary to the State Ministry of Defence Mr. Sunil
Samaraweera , senior Ministry officials, Commanders of the Sri Lanka
Navy and Air Force, senior Navy and Coast Guard officers and a number
special invitees were present at the occassion.

The SLCG will use the newly commissioned ship for
patrolling and surveillance of the country's territorial waters, render
humanitarian assistance and disaster response operations, prevention of
maritime pollution and for training purposes as well.