Hon. Prime Minister expresses gratitude to the Navy for rescuing ships at the Port of Hambantota
 

The Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne called on the Prime Minister Hon. Ranil Wickremesinghe at the Temple Trees on 15^th December 2016 and handed over a report on the Naval Operation carried out to release the international vessels forcibly detained by the striking port employees.

During this meeting, the Prime Minister expressed his gratitude to the Commander of the Navy and Navy in general for initiating swift measures to rescue the two ships and bringing routine operations back to normal at the Port of Hambantota with the help of naval personnel deployed to carry out a number of operational activities at the harbour premises.

Expressing his views on this occasion, the Prime Minister told that two Shipping Companies contacted him and said that their ships were in danger and they might be damaged by the protesters. As such, having discussed the developing situation with HE the President and Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, the Navy was summoned to launch an operation to save these international vessels. Upon the directives, the Navy carried out a special operation at the Port of Hambantota and managed to rescue the vessels expeditiously amidst great obstruction made by the mob of port employees.

 As per the international agreements it is the bounden duty of the Government to provide necessary security to the ships that are arriving to the ports of the country. Accordingly, the Navy as the authoritative body, involved in to get the turbulent situation under control at the harbour premises, the Prime Minister opined. Besides, Hon. Wickremesinghe believes that the presence of the Navy is important because of the dockyard and other intended facilities such as the power plant and an oil refinery that are expected to be set up in due course.