A modernised military frigate gifted by Chinese arrived in Sri Lanka today (08) at the Colombo harbour to join the Sri Lankan Navy fleet. To receive the vessel as it birthed at the docks, several officials including China’s Ambassador in Sri Lanka Cheng Xueyuan, Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Piyal De Silva, Chief of Staff of the Navy, Rear Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne, Deputy Chief of Staff and Director General Operations, Rear Admiral Niraja Attygalle, Commander Western Naval Area, Rear Admiral Sumith Weerasinghe, Military, Naval and Air Attaché of the Embassy of China in Sri Lanka, Senior Colonel Xu Jianwei were present. Upon its arrival, Commander of the Navy Vice Admiral Piyal De Silva, flanked by senior officers, made an inspection visit onboard the ship and supervised the functional and operational aspects of the vessel. The 112m long and 12.4m wide frigate, built in 1994, will be utilized for patrol and surveillance missions in the deep seas around Sri Lanka once the ship has been commissioned. The ship will also be used for search and rescue operations to provide security and assistance to naval and fisheries community. The ship is scheduled to receive its auspicious commissioning in the near future. [foogallery id="38084"]