Navy reinforces base next to strategic Hambantota Port

SLNS Kawantissa a fully-fledged navy station built next to the Hambanthota Port was commissioned last weekend

• Says expansion due to increased surveillance for drug traffickers off the southern coast 
• New base responsible for performing H’tota port and land security duty

By Asiri Fernando

The Sri Lanka Navy last weekend commissioned the naval station “SLNS Kawanthissa” built adjacent to the strategically located Hambanthota Port. SLNS Kawanthissa, had begun as a naval sub-unit (NSU) in 2010 and was upgraded to a larger deployment in 2018. 

The new facility was commissioned by the Commander of the Navy Vice Admiral Piyal De Silva on 5 July with a number of Senior Naval officers attending the ceremony. According to the Navy, the new establishment will be responsible for performing land and port security duties to ensure the safety of Hambantota port. 

“SLNS Kawanthissa” will coordinate with the Hambantota International Port and perform International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) duties at the port of Hambantota, while providing security and surveillance along the coast,” the Navy said.   

The new facility accommodates close to 850 officers and sailors, and is equipped with an operations room for observation of all ships and vessels in the sea area of the Southern Naval Command, facilitating the naval vessels patrolling the waters of the Southern Naval Area in carrying out essential maintenance work and is responsible for the security of a coastal stretch ranging over 101km from Kalamatiya to Kumbukkan Oya. 

The new establishment is supported by three Naval Sub Units (NSU) ‘Kirindi Oya’, ‘Suriyawewa’ and ‘Amaduwa’, stationed in its area of responsibility. The Navy had been gradually expanding coastal surveillance and patrols off the Southern coast due to the intercept of a number of narcotic trafficking attempts during the last two years. 

The Commissioning of the fully-fledged navy station at Hambanthota comes in the back-drop of the Navy operationalising a number of naval shore facilities and fleet support infrastructure in the recent past. 

Last weekend, the Navy deployment at Kalmunai was commissioned as SLNS ‘Deegayu’ by the Commander of the Navy adding a capacity to the Eastern Command. SLNS Deegayu is part of the Navy’s coastal radar surveillance network and provides coastal security and patrols among other routine duties. 

Last month the Navy commissioned a berthing facility at Kankesanturai (KKS) harbour, fulfilling a long felt need for a dedicated berthing facility for Navy vessels at the port. The new jetty, named ‘PH Bay’ allows the simultaneous berthing of multiple navy vessels, and is 100m in length and 70m in width. 

In 2018, the then Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said that the Navy will move its Southern-Command to Hambanthota, stressing that Sri Lanka would not allow any foreign military activity at the controversial port which is on long lease to China. Many countries including the United States, India and Japan have expressed concern over the Chinese control of the Hambantota Port. 

However, consecutive Sri Lankan Governments have maintained that the port will not be used for any foreign military activity.