The Flag Ship of the Indian Navy “INS Vickramaditya” arrives at the Port of Colombo
 

The Aircraft Carrier “INS Vickramaditya” and Guided Missile Destroyer “INS Mysore” of the Indian Navy arrived at the Port of Colombo today (21) on a goodwill visit. The visiting ships will take part in a series of programmes arranged by the Sri Lanka Navy to enhance goodwill during their stay in Sri Lanka. The Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet (FOCWF) of the Indian Navy, Rear Admiral Ravneet Singh and the Commanding Officers of the ships, Captain K Swaminathan and Captain M Paul called on the Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy, Vice Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne at the Naval Headquarters.

Further, the Indian naval personnel will take part in several cultural programmes, football and basketball matches at the Welisara naval base. Arrangements have been made to conduct a medical clinic in Neluwa, Galle by the Sri Lanka Navy with medical personnel of the Indian Navy. The ships will conduct several training programmes for Sri Lanka Navy and also conduct a naval exercise with the Sri Lanka Navy prior to the departure from the island.

“Vickramaditya” meaning brave as the Sun is 284 meters in length and 60 meters in width. The ship, which can carry 36 fighter aircraft, has 22 decks. The ship with a complement of 1,700 personnel has an endurance of 7,000 nautical miles. The long range air surveillance radar and modern electronic warfare equipment give the ship the capability of maintaining a 500 KM surveillance bubble. The ship has 30 MiG-29K fighter aircraft and 6 Kamov Ka-31 helicopters onboard. “INS Vickramaditya” is a Russian made aircraft carrier, which was modernized at a cost of 2.3 billion dollars. She was inducted in the Indian Navy in year 2013.