Lankan Prez visits INS Vikramaditya

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 23

Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena today got on board the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya, India’s biggest naval warship, in Colombo.

The visit to Colombo by INS Vikramaditya is its first overseas deployment and is part of New Delhi’s outreach in the Indian Ocean.

It was not only the first visit of Sirisena to a foreign warship after assuming office in January last year, but also the first Head of State visit to INS Vikramaditya – a 45,000-tonne warship that carries MiG-29K fighter jets on its deck.

“The visit of the ship to Colombo was the first ever foreign port being visited by the ship after being inducted into the Navy (in November, 2013),” said Captain DK Sharma, spokesperson for the Navy.

On his arrival, the Sri Lankan President was given a 50-man guard of honour. He was received by Rear Admiral Ranveet Singh, Flag Officer Commanding, Western Fleet and Captain Krishna Swaminathan, Commanding Officer of the ship.

The President walked around the ship and was shown various aviation facilities on board. He evinced keen interest in the functioning of the ship.

“The President stated that he was happy and honoured to be the first head of state to visit the Indian Navy’s flagship and state-of-the-art aircraft carrier,” the Navy spokesperson quoted him as having said.

A flotilla of three Chinese warships had also docked at Colombo for five days from January 17 to January 21.