Navy celebrates 69th anniversary

A Sri Lanka Air Force helicopter tests joint operability aboard Offshore Patrol Vessel SLNS Sindurala ahead of its 69th anniversary today. The Navy issuing a statement to mark the occasion said it would follow its ‘Maritime Strategy 2025,’ which aims to build a modern and more capable Navy. The strategy, aligned with national interest in becoming a maritime hub, aims to see the navy modernise and restructure to fulfil a range of duties ranging from traditional defence, sea control, anti-piracy, anti-trafficking, search and rescue, prevention of sea pollution and humanitarian assistance and disaster response among others. Over the last few years the Navy has been seeking to enhance its long range patrol, counter trafficking Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) capabilities and has also contributed to conservation and the nation building effort.