German frigate ‘BAYERN’ calls at Colombo port

Tuesday, 18 January 2022 01:32 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Commanding Officer Tilokalaski

German Ambassador to Sri Lanka Holger Seubert

The German frigate ‘BAYERN’ arrived in Sri Lanka on Sunday and will be docked at Colombo Port till today.

The ship, with around 200 sailors on board and on a patrol and training mission in the Indo-Pacific, made the call in Colombo as part of its six-month long deployment in the region.

The frigate embarked on this journey in August 2021 and will return to Germany at the end of February 2022.

The deployment of the ‘BAYERN’ relates to the German Government’s ‘Policy Guidelines for the Indo-Pacific’ as well as to the European Union’s ‘Strategy for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific’.

German Ambassador to Sri Lanka Holger Seubert said: “The fact that a German frigate dropped anchor at Colombo port testifies the outstandingly high quality of Germany’s bilateral relations with Sri Lanka. The visit gives expression to Germany’s determination to broaden its footprint in the Indo-Pacific region.”

Prior to the stopover in Sri Lanka, the ‘BAYERN’ was actively involved in monitoring UN sanctions against North Korea and in the EU’s anti-piracy mission ‘Atalanta’. The mission also serves as an opportunity to carry out joint exercises at sea with the Sri Lankan Navy for the very first time. All activities carried out in connection with the mission will strictly adhere to COVID-19 health guidelines.

Pix by Lasantha Kumara