Article Posted on : - Dec 11, 2009

A file photo of Lankan Navy Fast Attack Craft

COLOMBO (PTI): To bolster its coastline security, Sri Lanka is acquiring fast attacks patrol vessels from Israel, months after its forces vanquished LTTE bringing the curtains on the 30-year-old civil war.

"The attack boats will be procured by January next year enhancing Navy's existing coastal patrolling capabilities," Navy Chief Vice Admiral TSG Samarasinghe said here on Thursday.

Sri Lanka is following India's footsteps which recently acquired missile-armed superfast attack craft from Israel to guard its long coastline from terrorists.

Samarasinghe said the navy has strengthened coastal security to prevent any intrusion by extremist elements.

Commenting on the Bilateral Maritime Relationship between India and Sri Lanka, Samarasinghe said it was "brilliant".

"Although there have been many problems regarding the illegal fishing in Sri Lankan waters by Indian fisherman he said that a proper management process is needed to curb it," he was quoted as saying by the Media Centre for National Security.

"It is a complicated issue despite all the friendship between the two countries which prevail," Samarasinghe said.

The Navy chief said: "A Navy is important not just to face adversaries in war. The Navy has huge potential in many areas. Thus the Navy essentially strives to protect the land and its surrounding areas both diligently and confidently," he said.

"It is a well known factor that many forces attempt to hoodwink innocent people and by fraudulent means smuggle them via sea. This has led to an increase in death rates of these illegal immigrants," he said.

Stating that measures have been taken to ensure the fishermen are given maximum facilities, he said many of the restrictions placed on them during the peak of the war have been lifted.