Indian Coast Guard Ship Sachet, an Offshore Patrol Vessel, arrived in Colombo on June 19, 2024, for a two-day visit during which it delivered essential spare parts valued at USD 1.2 million to the Sri Lanka Coast Guard Ship Suraksha on a gratis basis. The commanding officer of Sachet, Deputy Inspector General R Rajesh Nambiraj, TM, met with Rear Admiral TSK Perera of the Commander Western Naval Area and Rear Admiral Pujitha Vilthana, Director General of the Sri Lanka Coast Guard, upon arrival.
In a formal ceremony, the Indian Coast Guard Ship handed over the spare parts to Sri Lanka Coast Guard Ship Suraksha, attended by dignitaries including High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka H.E. Shri Santosh Jha, Sri Lanka’s Secretary of Defence Gen Kamal Gunaratne (Retd), Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera of the Sri Lanka Navy, and other senior officers from both Sri Lanka Coast Guard and Navy. The Sachet departed Colombo on June 21, 2024.
SLCGS Suraksha, an Offshore Patrol Vessel gifted to Sri Lanka by the Government of India in October 2017, has previously received donations of spare parts from India in June 2021 and April 2022, and assistance with Halon cylinder refilling in January 2024. This recent handover of a substantial consignment of spare parts underscores India’s commitment to enhancing maritime security capabilities in the region, addressing shared challenges collaboratively.
Earlier this year, Indian Coast Guard Ships Samarth and Abhinav visited Galle and Colombo from February 27 to March 5, 2024. These visits by Indian Navy and Coast Guard vessels aim to strengthen camaraderie and interoperability between the two nations’ navies and coast guards, aligning with India’s SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) doctrine and ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy.
