A felicitation ceremony was held at the Shangri-La Hotel, Colombo on June 6 to honour nine members of the Sri Lanka Navy diving team who participated in the Search and Rescue (SAR) operation of the Chinese fishing vessel Lupeng Yuanyu 028. This incident gained worldwide attention. The ceremony was held under the patronage of Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Qi Zhenhong and Chief of the Presidential Staff and Senior Adviser to the President on National Security Sagala Ratnayaka along with the diving team of the Sri Lankan Naval ship Vijayabahu who joined the operation. Here Sagala Ratnayaka, the Chinese Ambassador, Minister of Transport, Highways and Mass Media Dr. Bandula Gunawardena, State Minister of Foreign Affairs Tharaka Balasooriya, Chief of Defence Staff General Shavendra Silva, Navy Commander Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera and other guests.
Pic: Sulochana Gamage