Sri Lanka To Get Two Offshore Patrol Vessels From India In 2017

India will be selling two Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) to Sri Lanka in 2017.

“The first will be delivered in February 2017 and the second at the end of that year. Both vessels are being constructed at the Goa Shipyard,” Lankan naval spokesman Capt.Akram Alavi was quoted by Indian Express news daily Thursday.  

These will be the first brand new OPVs to join the Lankan navy.

Lankan Coast Guard will be receiving two Japanese vessels as part of the Japanese government’s efforts to strengthen maritime security cooperation in the Indian Ocean region in 2017.

The Lankan navy has, at present, three OPVs. “SLNS Sayura, which is the navy’s flagship, was acquired from India on a soft loan. SLNS Sagara was a gift from India. The third OPV, SLNS Samudura, is a second hand one bought from the US,” Capt.Alavi said.

Daily Mirror has quoted Lankan navy chief Vice Adm.Ravindra Wijegunaratne as saying that by 2025, the Lankan navy will have acquired five more OPVs.