SLNS Sayura

SLNS "Sayura" ("Sayura", in Sinhalese: Sea) is the Flag ship and an Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) of the Sri Lanka Navy. She was formally the INS "Sarayu", a Sukanya class patrol craft of the Indian Navy sold to Sri Lanka in 2000. She was refitted with new armament before being delivered to the Sri Lanka Navy.

Operations

"Sayura" is tasked with deep sea patrolling both within the Sri Lankan territorial waters and in international waters to curb ongoing arms smuggling by the LTTE. In recent months after undergoing a major refit in India, "Sayura", along with other OPVs of the Sri Lankan Navy, has successfully intercepted several ships smuggling arms for the LTTE. In all these cases the ships were sunk when they attacked the naval vessels with mortars.

INS "Sarayu"

Commissioned 10 April 1991, INS "Sarayu" (P54) served with the Indian Navy until she was sold to Sri Lanka in 2000.

External links

* [http://www.navy.lk Sri Lanka Navy]
* [http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/NAVY/Sukanya.html SUKANYA CLASS]
* [http://www.navy.lk/index.php?id=436 Defenders of the ocean receive heroes’ welcome on their triumphant return to home base]
*https://www.navy.lk/assets/files/news/letter_of_commendation.pdf