Two Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF) ships, Ariake DD- 109 and Setogiri DD- 156, arrived at the Port of Colombo for logistics requirements on Monday.

The Sri Lanka Navy said that the ships are en route for Counter Piracy Operations off the Coast of Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden. They were welcomed by the Sri Lanka Navy in accordance with naval traditions on arrival.

Head of the team, Commander Escort Division 7, Captain Hirofumi Shimizu and Ships’ Commanding Officers, Commander Yoshihiro Kai and Commander Toshiyuki Iwanami paid a courtesy call on Commander Western Naval Area, Rear Admiral Sirimevan Ranasinghe of the Sri Lanka Navy at the Western Naval Command Headquarters in Colombo. They held cordial discussions and exchanged mementos as a gesture of goodwill.

“Ariake” is a destroyer with two helicopters onboard. It is 150.5 meters in length. It consists of a complement of 200 naval personnel and has a displacement of 4,550 tons. “Setogiri” is also a destroyer with a helicopter onboard. It is 137 meters in length and has a displacement of 3,550 tons. It consists of a complement of 200 naval personnel.

The ships’ complements will participate in a special programme organized by the Sri Lanka Navy during their stay in Sri Lanka. The visiting Japanese ships will stay in Sri Lanka tomorrow (14).