The People's Republic of China provided 300,000 Sinopharm vaccine to the Armed Forces of Sri Lanka today (28th August 2021). The consignment of vaccine was officially handed over to the Defence Secretary, General (Retd.) Kamal Gunaratne by Defence Attaché of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Sri Lanka, Senior Colonel Wan Dong at the Bandaranaike International Airport, Katunayake and the occasion was also attended by Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne.

Taking into account the depletion of blood stocks in blood banks in the area following the pandemic, the Eastern Naval Command conducted a blood donation campaign at SLNS Kashyapa, Wakare on 25th August 2021. This timely event was organized following the directives of Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne and guidance of the Commander Eastern Naval Area, Rear Admiral Sanjeewa Dias.

An awareness programme on International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS), conducted by the Ministry of Ports and Shipping, concluded on 25th August 2021 at Naval Headquarters. Meanwhile, the certificate awarding of the programme was held under the patronage of Director General Merchant Shipping, Mr. AW Senevirathna and with the attendance of Director Naval Operations, Commodore Nishantha Peiris.

The Chairman of Crown Royal Holdings (Pvt) Ltd Mr. Ajit Kangara Arachchi handed over a complete three-storeyed house to Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne, to be used as a COVID-19 Intermediate Care Centre of Sri Lanka Navy. Mr. Ajit Kangara Arachchi, the owner of this real estate, is a former Lieutenant Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy. The simple function to handover this facility was held in Aggona, Thalangama on 23rd August 2021.

Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne this morning (23rd August 2021) took time off to visit the Indian Naval Ship (INS) Shakti and Sri Lanka Naval Ship (SLNS) Shakthi that arrived in Colombo with freight of medical-grade oxygen. Addressing the ship’s crew of INS Shakti, Commander of the Navy expressed his profound gratitude to them and the Indian Navy for their all-out support extended in the swift delivery of supplemental oxygen to Sri Lanka. By the same token he heaped praise on the crew of SLNS Shakthi that made the ship ready for this special voyage at short notice, shouldering the task of national importance.

Sri Lanka Naval Ship (SLNS) Shakthi which left the Trincomalee harbour for the port of Chennai, Indian on 17th August 2021, for a shipment of medical-grade oxygen ordered from India, arrived at the port of Colombo, with approx. 40 tons of oxygen, in the midnight on 22nd August 2021.

In response to a call of Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne, from the Chief of Naval Staff of India, Admiral Karambir Singh, Indian Naval Ship (INS) Shakti was rushed to Sri Lanka with a batch of medical-grade oxygen, ordered from India. Accordingly, the ship which left the Visakhapatnam Port with freight of approx. 100 tons of oxygen on 19th August 2021, arrived at the port of Colombo this evening (22nd August).

Sri Lanka Naval Ship (SLNS) Shakthi which departed the Trincomalee harbour on 17th August 2021 for a shipment of medical grade oxygen, arrived at the port of Chennai, India in the evening of 18th August. Having taken the delivery of oxygen ordered from the Indian government, SLNS Shakthi set sail home from the port of Chennai this morning (20th August).

The President and Commander-in- Chief of Armed Forces of Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, His Excellency Gotabaya Rajapaksa appointed Rear Admiral YN Jayarathne as the Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Navy, effective from today (17th August 2021). Accordingly, Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne, officially handed over the letter of appointment in this regard to Rear Admiral YN Jayarathne at the Navy Headquarters, today (17th August 2021).

The 43rd edition of the ‘Sayurusara’ Magazine published by the Navy Media was presented to the Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne by the Chief Editor of the magazine, Lieutenant Commander (VNF) SR Sudusinghe at the Navy Headquarters today (17th August 2021).