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INS Mumbai arrives in Colombo (Pics)

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The Indian Naval Ship (INS) Mumbai arrived at the port of Colombo on a formal visit this morning (26th August 2024). The visiting ship was welcomed by the Sri Lanka Navy in compliance with naval traditions.

(Pics : navy.lk)


(Previous News on 26th August, 2024 at 7:57am)

Indian warship INS Mumbai to arrive in Colombo today

Indian Navy’s frontline Warship INS Mumbai, will arrive Colombo today (Aug. 26) on a three-day visit. 

The ship will be received in a ceremonial manner by the Sri Lanka Navy.
INS Mumbai is the third of the Delhi class destroyers, indigenously built and commissioned into the Indian Navy on 22 January 2001. The Ship was built at Mazagon Dock Limited in her namesake city Mumbai. The ship completed it’s mid-life upgrade and joined Eastern Naval Command in Visakhapatnam on 08 December 2023. This is INS Mumbai’s first visit to any port in Sri Lanka and will be the eighth port call by Indian Ships this year. INS Kabra, Karanj, Kamorta and Shalki visited this year in addition to Indian Coast Guard ships Samarth, Abhinav and Sachet.

INS Mumbai will be bringing essential spares for the Dornier maritime patrol aircraft operated by Sri Lanka Airforce. The Dornier aircraft provides a unique and critical capability of surveillance over the Sea Area of Responsibility (AOR) of Sri Lanka since induction two years ago. This has also greatly enhanced the Search and Rescue capability in Sri Lanka’s vast EEZ.  In addition to training the SLAF Pilots, Flight Navigators, Indian Navy is supporting the maintenance of this aircraft with a Technical team and spares. Indian Ship visited earlier this year, also brought in material assistance. INS Kabra and later ICGS Sachet had brought spares parts for Sri Lanka Coast Guard ship Suraksha.

During the stay in Colombo, INS Mumbai will conduct familiarization tour onboard for Sri Lanka Navy personnel aimed at sharing best practices between both the Navies. It can be recalled that visit for Long specialization course student officers and Cadets of Naval and Maritime Academy, Trincomalee was organized onboard the submarine Shalki, during port call earlier this month, adding value to their training. Indian Navy also provides various specialist courses including in core area of Hydrography in India for capacity building of the Sri Lanka Navy.

On arrival, Commanding Officer will Call on the Commander of the Western Naval Area Rear Admiral W.D.C.U Kumarasinghe at Western Naval Area Headquarters. The ship will also undertake joint activities with Sri Lanka Navy such as sports fixtures, Yoga and beach cleaning.

It has been customary for Indian Naval Ships to make Port call at Sri Lankan ports, when transiting between Arabian sea and Bay of Bengal. The visit is categorized as an Operational Turn Around (OTR), wherein the ship will also replenish fuel and provisions. The crew will find time for rest and recuperation and also an opportunity to visit few places of importance in the city and some popular tourist attractions in Colombo and Galle.

INS Mumbai will depart the island on 29 August 2024.

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Sri Lanka’s largest FDI project in limbo as sinopec-Hambantota refinery faces delays    

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Six months after the signing of a landmark agreement, Sri Lanka’s largest-ever foreign direct investment (FDI) project—the $3.7 billion Sinopec oil refinery in Hambantota—remains stalled due to unresolved disputes over local market access, government sources revealed.  

The agreement, signed during President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s state visit to Beijing earlier this year, involves China’s state-owned petroleum giant Sinopec constructing a state-of-the-art refinery with a capacity of 200,000 barrels per day in Hambantota. The project, expected to significantly boost Sri Lanka’s foreign exchange earnings through exports, has been hailed as a transformative investment for the nation’s economy and local employment.  

However, negotiations have hit a snag over Sinopec’s demand for unrestricted access to Sri Lanka’s domestic fuel market. 

The government has imposed a 20% cap on the company’s local sales, a condition Sinopec has contested. 

A senior Energy Ministry official, speaking anonymously, confirmed that no agreement has been reached on the market share issue, though discussions are ongoing to resolve the impasse.  

The refinery, slated to be a cornerstone of Sri Lanka’s energy infrastructure, is designed to export a substantial portion of its output, reducing the country’s reliance on fuel imports. 

The government has emphasized the project’s potential to uplift low-income communities in Hambantota while strengthening economic growth.  

Source – dailymirror.com

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Eight individuals claim ownership rights to Jaffna’s Presidential Palace

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A recent investigation by Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Urban Development, Construction, and Housing has uncovered that the so-called ‘Presidential Palace’ in Jaffna was constructed before the government had fully secured legal ownership of the land.  

The property, consisting of eight residences, was developed during the administration of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, while the land acquisition process was still underway. 

Urban Development Authority (UDA) Chairman Eng. L.B. Kumudu Lal confirmed the findings in an interview with weekend paper.  

“The construction of the five houses—often referred to as the ‘Presidential Palace’—was carried out before the legal acquisition process was finalized. We are now working to complete the remaining legal formalities,” Lal stated.  

The disputed land, located in Kankesanthurai, spans approximately 30 acres, with buildings occupying around 15 acres. 

The Sri Lankan military undertook the construction between 2010 and 2015, at an estimated cost of Rs. 3.5 billion.  

According to the UDA Chairman, ownership disputes are expected to be fully resolved by the end of 2025. Once cleared, the government plans to open the property to investors for redevelopment into a project that benefits the local community.  

The investigation highlights that the construction proceeded despite pending legal challenges—a process that has taken nearly a decade to resolve. However, officials remain hopeful that the remaining issues will be settled within the next year, paving the way for a more publicly beneficial use of the site.  

As the legal process nears completion, the future of the controversial property may soon shift from a symbol of political excess to a resource for Jaffna’s development.  

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Fishing boat capsizes off Tangalle, Two fishermen missing

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Another boat accident has been reported in seas off Tangalle.

According to the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN), a total of six fishermen were onboard the vessel when it met with an accident off the coast of Paravi Wella Beach in Tangalle.

Four of the fishermen have been rescued while two others remain missing.

Steps have been taken to locate the missing fishermen.

Meanwhile, three other boat accidents were reported yesterday in seas off Galle, Kalutara and Hikkaduwa.

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