The official commissioning ceremony of the Sri Lanka Naval Ship (SLNS) Samudrawijaya, which arrived from the United States after completing a historic 12,000 nautical mile journey, was held at the Colombo Port yesterday (04).
The voyage marks the longest sea journey undertaken by a Sri Lanka Navy crew in its history and also represents the first time a Sri Lankan naval vessel has traversed the Panama Canal.
The ceremony was held under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and attended by Deputy Minister of Defence Major General (Retd.) K.P. Aruna Jayasekara, Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal (Retd.) Sampath Thuiyakontha, and Navy Commander Vice Admiral Kanchana Banagoda.
According to the United States Embassy, the vessel — previously operated by the U.S. Coast Guard under the name Decisive — is the fourth ship donated to Sri Lanka through the U.S. Defense Surplus Program.
With the addition of Samudrawijaya, Sri Lanka now operates four former U.S.-donated vessels, alongside Samudura, Gajabahu, and Vijayabahu.
The vessel departed from Baltimore, Maryland, on February 20, crossed three oceans during its voyage, and arrived in Trincomalee on May 8.
Authorities say the new ship is expected to enhance Sri Lanka’s maritime security capabilities, including strengthening border surveillance, combating illegal fishing and drug trafficking, and improving search and rescue operations.
The U.S. Embassy also stated that the addition of the vessel further strengthens longstanding defence and maritime cooperation between Sri Lanka and the United States.
