Pakistan naval ships to arrive in Sri Lanka on goodwill visit

Port call is part of traditional, professional and friendly relationship between navies of Sri Lanka and Pakistan

Pakistan naval ships NASR and SAIF are set to arrive at Colombo Port for a four-day goodwill visit to Sri Lanka on Sunday.

A number of professional training activities are planned between the two navies during the visit, including a reception on PNS NASR on March 13, 2017. The port call is part of a strong traditional, professional and friendly relationship between the navies of Sri Lanka and Pakistan.



According to reports, PNS SAIF is a SWORD class F22P Frigates of Chinese origin. It is equipped with state of the art weapons, sensors and machinery, making it capable of undertaking a variety of maritime operations, while PNS NASR is a leading unit of Pakistani Navy Fleet’s 9th Auxiliary and Mine Warfare Squadron.

Both ships have taken part in a large number of the multinational exercises. The PNS NASR also extensively participated in tsunami relief operations in 2004.



Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif last year called for closer military cooperation with Sri Lanka on an official visit to the island. Pakistan was a key supplier of arms and aircraft for Sri Lanka’s military in their battle against separatist Tamil Tiger rebels during the civil war that ended in May 2009.

Sri Lanka also sends its military officers for higher training to both Pakistan and its arch-rival India as well as to several other countries, including the United States and China.