(UDHAYAM, COLOMBO) – A guided-missile cruiser of the United States (US) Navy, USS ‘Lake Erie’ arrived at the Port of Colombo on a post relief mission on Sunday (11). In appreciation of the noble efforts of the ship’s crew, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ravi Karunanayake made a visit aboard the US Naval vessel on Friday (16).
US Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Mr. Atul Keshap, Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN), Vice Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne, Director General Operations, Rear Admiral Piyal De Silva and Commander Western Naval Area, Rear Admiral Niraja Attygalle were also present on this occasion.
Minister Karunanayake expressed his profound gratitude to the US Government for assisting Sri Lanka following the recent disaster situation. Speaking on this occasion, the Commander of the Navy made his sincere remarks on the US Marines who also played an instrumental role in establishing the SLN Marine Battalion.
USS ‘Lake Erie’ is on a two-week post relief mission in Sri Lanka and the US Naval personnel on-board ship have rendered assistance to clean 324 wells, 4 schools and reconstruct 4 bunds of tanks.
The ship is due to leave from the Colombo harbour on 25th of this month.