French delegation visits Navy Headquarters and Eastern Naval Command

A French delegation including the French Ambassador to Sri Lanka, H.E. Jean-François PACTET visited the Navy Headquarters on 24th April 2023. Meanwhile, the delegation members also visited the Eastern Naval Command on 26th April. The visits were made on the sidelines of a training programme held under the auspices of the Embassy of France to Sri Lanka.

The delegation paid a visit to the Navy Headquarters and called on Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera on 24th April, on the sidelines of a training programme, held under the auspices of the French Embassy in Colombo, at the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) Colombo from 24th to 28th April. During the official interaction, the Commander of the Navy and members of the delegation exchanged views on several matters of bilateral importance. The Deputy Chief of Staff and Director General Operations, Rear Admiral Pradeep Rathnayake was also present on this occasion.

The training programme was conducted by French MRCC of Réunion Island and the key focus of the programme was on Search and Rescue Organization, Conducting SAR Operations, Global Maritime Distress and Safety System Equipment, Search Planning and Planning on Scene Coordination.

Meanwhile, the visiting delegation also paid a visit to the Eastern Naval Command on 26th April. During the visit, the delegation members met with Commander Eastern Naval Area cum Commandant Volunteer Naval Force, Rear Admiral Dammika Kumara and Commandant Naval and Maritime Academy, Commodore Buddhika Liyanagamage and held discussions of bilateral nature.