We took swift measures: Navy

11 December 2016 01:38 pm - 15 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A A A

The Navy took swift measures to disperse the port employees who staged a protest campaign at the Hambantota Port premises yesterday, the Navy said.

It said in a statement that the employees were disrupting the routine work of the harbour and creating a huge loss of revenue to the government while the shipping companies were incurring heavy demurrage.

The protesting Port employees were obstructing the operations of the Merchant Ships berthed alongside the jetty and was causing much damage to the ships and adjacent facility by putting up obstacles of heavy machinery, equipment and usage of Gantry cranes blocking the movement of ships.

The Sri Lanka Navy who is the competent authority to carry out the ISPS (International Ship and Port Facility Security) Code had to intervene today to disperse the protesters from the two ships and the adjacent facility to make way for normal port operations. The protesters were holding the ship by force and had seized its operation which is a grave violation of International laws and norms which could be treated as an act of piracy, whereas the punishments are very severe in nature.

The Naval personnel entered the Hambantota harbour premises by naval craft by the sea passage and boarded the two ships and its berthed pier, and brought the situation under the Navy’s control having laid a cordon around the jetty area. Moreover, the Navy paved the way to sail the forcefully held car carrier ‘Hyperion Highway’ back to its next port of call in Oman this evening, and also the naval personnel managed to clear all obstacles laid around jetty and adjacent premises, restored power supply, operated tug boats and fleet units and provided seaborne security in a well-coordinated and executed operation. As a result of above sabotage carried out by port employees the Shipping agent of ‘Hyperion Highway’ had to incur a total demurrage of USD 400,000 for the last 4 days of non-operation.

The other merchant ship named ‘MV Hoyanger’ which is still berthed at the pier is yet to unload the cargo and cannot proceed to the next port of call unless unloading the cargo onboard, which may have to stay a few days until the port operations are normalized.

Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

Comments - 15

dulan Sunday, 11 December 2016 03:08 PM

Well done. Navy Commander led from the front an example to other leaders.

Citizen Monday, 12 December 2016 02:23 AM

Big man no brain!

dilshan Monday, 12 December 2016 06:39 AM

Workers have every right to strike, but not endanger activity of non strikers. Port strikes are common, but not in this manner. shame on the port workers who appear to have been misled. Well done Navy.

Anton Monday, 12 December 2016 06:54 AM

Well done navy.GOOD JOB.

RanjitS Monday, 12 December 2016 07:01 AM

Good work by the commander. When the white elephant is turned into a working elephant workers protest. MR's trip to China to stop the move failed, a hidden hand made the workers to raise their protest to a violent level. Rajapaksa's except Gotta should leave from SL politics.

JANS Monday, 12 December 2016 07:29 AM

Correct Way BRAVO that is the way to handle too much people via DM Android App

Hashim Monday, 12 December 2016 07:38 AM

Well done Navy. Those who obstruct productivity are traitors.

Premalal Monday, 12 December 2016 07:51 AM

Thank our stars that this guy was not the Navy commander during the war. He doesn't seem to know his duties. Just acting like a naval rating.

Sambo Monday, 12 December 2016 07:54 AM

Well don you boys in the Navy. Congratulations. You should have kicked some butts even harder. These ding dons think by striking they can will rights all the time. This has become a fashion with this word "YAHAPALANAYA" Well done boys keep it up.

Don Monday, 12 December 2016 08:54 AM

Initially its the Navys job then it should have been handled by the police. But all who damaged property and caused financial damage should be charged in court. via DM Android App

sane Monday, 12 December 2016 08:55 AM

Well done This is the right way to handle the thuggerism and to safeguard the dignity of motherland. May be its a bitter pill for the politicians via DM Android App

thimothy Monday, 12 December 2016 10:31 AM

Well Done... This is criminal activity just as the three wheel protest blocking the railways.Please dont stop there. Take action against all those individuals involved and make sure the maximum punishment is granted by the rule of Law.

nalin perera Monday, 12 December 2016 10:55 AM

Well done to the SLN and its Commander. Do not be deterred in doing your job by cheap Journalists and political Goondas of the previous regime.

Thomas Monday, 12 December 2016 11:04 AM

Must congratulate Navy Commander and his navy ratings for doing an excellent jobGovt must reward the navy commander for personally leading the action on violent port workers who held the foreign ship to ransomWell done Navy

RanjitS Monday, 12 December 2016 12:02 PM

Whether he acted like a naval rating or not the job is done. Treat your wounds before they get infected.

Add comment
Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.

We took swift measures: Navy

Comments - 15

Add comment

RECOMMENDED

UDA owned land in Thalawathugoda; UDA Minister Prasanna Ranatunga under the spotlight for forceful occupation of reserved land

Loss-making SMIB faces political pressure in recovering loans

Baltimore Bridge Collapse: MV Dali, SL authorities anchored in mystery?

Has Sri Lanka become a potential hub for the illegal wildlife trade?

Spotlight on Moragahakanda Development Project Moragolla villagers lose livelihoods and down to one meal a day

Ambitious Sri Lankan jobseekers ‘trafficked into Ukraine war zones’

Western purple-faced langurs see blue!

Most Viewed in News

April 15 declared a government holiday

Confusion remains if April 15 is a bank holiday

New Visa procedure implemented

Former MP Palitha Thewarapperuma dies from electrocution

A US “Kaputa”, a Lankan “Nariya” and a Presidential “Feast”

Belgian traveller scammed in Kalutara

MIRROR CRICKET

TODAY'S HEADLINES