MANILA, Philippines — A Navy ship of Sri Lanka pulled into the Philippines for the first time since ties between Manila and Colombo were established…
MANILA, Philippines — A Navy ship of Sri Lanka pulled into the Philippines for the first time since ties between Manila and Colombo were established almost six decades ago.
The ship known as P626, which docked in Manila on Thursday for a three-day goodwill visit, is homebound from Hawaii after its crew spent eight months there.
The vessel was a former Hamilton-class cutter Sherman (WHEC-270) of the US Coast Guard. It was transferred to Sri Lanka last August.
The Philippine Navy also owns three ships of the same type, now known as Del Pilar-class offshore patrol vessels.
Captain AAR Abeysinghe, deputy director of naval operations Sri Lanka Naval headquarters, said they wanted to take the opportunity to reciprocate the visits of Philippine Navy vessels which stops over Colombo ports while transiting the Indian Ocean.
Sports events, ship tours, and replenishment activities are set during the duration of the visit. Abeysinghe will also pay a courtesy call on Navy chief Vice Adm. Robert Empedrad.
The scheduled reception was canceled following the Eastern Day bombings in Sri Lanka that left more than 300 killed.
