New North Western Naval Command Hqrs Declared Open

Giving more teeth to the continuing Naval surveillance and further expanding the existing security blanket in and around the seas off Mullikulama, in the northern most point at Wilpattu sanctuary, Sri Lanka Navy on Thursday (2) ceremonially inaugurated its North Western Naval Command Headquarters at Mullikulama.

Mr Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Secretary Defence graced the inaugural ceremony as Chief Guest at the invitation of Rear Admiral Thisara Samarasinghe. Air Chief Marshal Roshan Goonetileke, Chief of Defence Staff and Air Force Commander, Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya, Commander of the Army, Mr Udeni Wickramasinghe, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Major General Palitha Fernando (Retd), Military Liasion Officer at Ministry of Defence, and a host of senior tri-service officers were associated with the occasion.

The relocation of the North Western Naval Command Headquarters, away from its former location at Puttalam enables Naval troops to maintain strict surveillance against drug trafficking across sea borders, human smuggling, poaching and use of illegal equipment and explosives in fishing, violent acts committing in and around Wilpattu sanctuary, illicit immigration, smuggling of contraband, etc covering the entire North Western coastal stretch between Udappuwa and Arippuwa until up to the international maritime boundary.

The ceremony included the formal briefing, planting of tree saplings, unveiling of plaques, etc. 

SLNS Theraputta in Silawathura, SLNS Barana in Mullikulam, SLNS Vijaya in Kalpitiya and SLNS Thambapanni in Puttalam are under command to this new North Western Naval Headquarters. Vice Admiral Thisara Samarasinghe, Commander of the Navy received the Chief Guest Mr Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the Chief of Defence Staff along with Rear Admiral Ruwan Dias, Commander North Western Naval Command Area Headquarters.  

The relocation will also facilitate supply of expanded mobile and observation missions along the coastal belt, security to fishing industry, infrastructure maintenance for fisher folk, etc, in addition to the possibilities for speedy resettlement of displaced people. 

Mr Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Secretary Defence on the sidelines of the ceremonial opening told the media that absence of proper security installations around the country in the past enabled LTTE terrorists to stockpile arms and ammunition hauls, very much larger than what the Army possessed. “They smuggled all those stocks across the sea. The government is therefore planning to establish military bases in vulnerable points such as the one at Mullikulam.  Another such security establishment has already been established at Mullaittivu,” Mr Gotabaya Rajapaksa added.

Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya was welcomed on arrival by Rear Admiral A.A.R.A Dias, Commander North Western Naval Command Headquarters.