Thursday, 12 February 2015 02:00
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Sri Lanka has expressed its willingness to strengthen and broaden military and defence relations with Iran, according to an Iranian media report.
The Commander of the Sri Lankan Navy’s Western Fleet Rear Admiral Dayananda Nanayakkara said that Sri Lanka is “seriously determined to expand mutual cooperation” with Iran when the naval officers of two Iranian navy vessels which docked at the Colombo Port met with the Sri Lankan Navy officials.
“The presence of the Iranian Navy’s warships in Sri Lanka is in line with strengthening the two countries’ relations,” the Sri Lankan Navy commander has said.
The Commander of Sri Lanka Navy Vice Admiral Jayantha Perera said that the presence of the Iranian Navy’s 33rd fleet of warships in his country was meant to reinvigorate Iran-Sri Lanka relations.
“We are interested in developing our relations with Iran not only militarily but also in the political field and our President has on different occasions placed emphasis on broadening bilateral ties,” the FARS news agency, quoting Vice Admiral Perera, said.
The Sri Lankan Navy Commander also pointed to the good record of Iran-Sri Lanka relations and said the visit by the Iranian warships would play a key role in strengthening bilateral ties.
Two Iranian naval ships, IRIS Naghdi and IRIS Bandar Abbas, arrived at the Port of Colombo on Monday (09) as part of the overseas tour for the Naval University cadets of Iran. They were welcomed by the Sri Lanka Navy in keeping with naval traditions on their arrival.
The Officer in Tactical Command Captain Mohammad Reza and commanding officers of the ships belonging to the Iranian Naval Force paid a courtesy call on Vice Admiral Perera at the naval headquarters in Colombo on Tuesday. They held cordial discussions and exchanged mementos as a gesture of goodwill.
IRIS Naghdi is a corvette commanded by Commander Mehrab Tamaddon. It is 82 meters in length and has a displacement of 1,135 tons. IRIS Bandar Abbas is a training ship commanded by Commander Mohsen Razzaqi. It is 108 meters in length and has a displacement of 4,673 tons.
The visiting Iranian naval ships will stay in Sri Lanka until Thursday (12) and the crews are scheduled to participate in a series of programs organised by the Sri Lanka Navy to enhance the friendly relations between the two navies during their stay in Sri Lanka.
The Iranian Navy’s 24th and 28th fleet of warships had earlier docked in Sri Lanka.
