Commander of the Navy awards Letters of Commendation to brave Navy divers

Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera today (12th June 2023) at the Navy Headquarters awarded Letters of Commendation to the naval personnel who engaged in a daring diving operation at the overturned Chinese fishing vessel (‘LU PENG YUAN YU 028’). The Chinese fishing vessel encountered this unfortunate turn of events when it was in the Australian Search and Rescue Region, south of Sri Lanka on 16th May 2023. The commendable diving operation carried out by Sri Lanka Navy divers in search of survivors also garnered international recognition and praise.

At the directives of Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera, a diving team onboard SLNS Vijayabahu was despatched to the Australian Search and Rescue Region on 17th May to engage in this diving operation at the overturned Chinese fishing vessel. Having reached the location, the Sri Lanka Navy divers commenced a dedicated diving operation on 20th May hoping to find any survivors in air pockets within the upturned vessel.

Following three days of arduous diving under difficult circumstances, the Navy divers successfully retrieved two (02) corpses from the accommodation area and located additional twelve decomposed bodies of the crew from other sections. In less than 24 hours after the challenging diving operation, the distressed Chinese vessel sank to the bottom of the ocean.

Appreciative of the braveness, professionalism and dedication of the Sri Lanka Navy divers engaged in this diving operation, even risking their own lives, Commander of the Navy awarded Letters of Commendation to Lieutenant Commander (Diving) Indika Subasinghe, Petty Officer (Diving) KPA Arunajith, Petty Officer (Diving) EMDA Ekanayake, Petty Officer (Diving) Jayatissa, Leading Seaman (Diving) HD Darshana, Leading Seaman (Diving) NMCL Narayana, Able Seaman (Diving) IDLM Dissanayake, Able Seaman (Diving) WWNC Sandaruwan and Able Seaman (Diving) RS Kumarage today.

As per Sri Lanka’s commitment to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), the Maritime Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC) Colombo established at the Navy Headquarters, is responsible for coordinating and facilitating maritime search and rescue operations. In this endeavour, the Sri Lanka Navy also plays a vital role and the exceptional commitment, professionalism, and unwavering dedication of naval personnel of this nature are essential in fulfilling the Navy's bounden duty with utmost efficiency and effectiveness.