India has delivered, what will be the Sri Lankan Navy’s most advanced ship, 25 days ahead of schedule reports, Colombo Gazette.
The purchase of Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV) from India formed one of the largest and most significant form of defence ties between Sri Lanka and India, with the purchase being considered one of India’s largest export contracts to a neighbouring nation.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the vessel, India’s Rear Admiral Shekhar Mital said,
“This state of the art and largest ship in the Sri Lanka Naval fleet will help the increasing requirement of the Sri Lanka Navy for undertaking policing and patrolling of its vast Exclusive Economic Zone. Great care, attention and forethought have gone in ensuring that this vessel is built to the highest standards and the same has been validated in the harbour and sea trials, where the ship as achieved all design specifications, to the satisfaction of our special friend Sri Lanka Navy.”