Two Japanese Warships Call at Colombo, Sri Lanka

Two Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) ships, “Inazuma – 105” and “Umigiri – 158”, arrived at the Port of Colombo on a goodwill and logistics visit on the 1st of April 2014.

The ships are en route for counter piracy operation off the coast of Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden.

Commander of the Escort Division Eight of the Japanese Navy, Captain Koji Tachikawa and ships’ Commanding Officers paid a courtesy call on Commander of Western Naval Area of the Sri Lanka Navy, Rear Admiral Sirimevan Ranasinghe at the Western Naval Command Headquarters in Colombo. They held discussions and exchanged mementos as a gesture of goodwill.

The ships will remain in Sri Lanka till April 2nd and their crews are scheduled to take part in a series of special programmes organized by the Sri Lanka Navy to strengthen the friendship between the two navies.

• “Inazuma – 105” is a destroyer commanded by Commander Shunichiro Kachi. It is 151 meters in length and has a displacement of 4,550 tons. The ship’s complement consists of 170 naval personnel.
• “Umigiri – 158” is a destroyer commanded by Commander Matuda Mituteru. It is 137 meters in length and has a displacement of 3,550 tons. The ship’s complement consists of 190 naval personnel.

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Press Release, April 2, 2014, Image: Sri Lanka Navy