Accordingly, the Commanding Officer of the Indian Naval Survey Ship INS Dharshak, Captain Peush Pawsey handed the fair sheets of "Colombo to Sangamankanda" and "Weligama Bay" to the Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne at an official function held at the Navy Headquarters on Friday12th May.
According to Navy media, this is the first ever joint survey conducted with the assistance of the Indian Navy Hydrographic Department. The survey commenced on 29th March (2017). Hydrographers of Sri Lanka Navy and Indian Navy completed the survey within a period of six weeks. The survey covered approximately 41,600 square kilometres (12,150 square nautical miles) of area.
The survey was conducted with state of the art equipment and technology available with the Indian Naval Survey Ship INS 'Darshak', that included Multi-Beam Sounding, Single-Beam Sounding Side Scan Sonar, DGPS etc.
Sri Lanka, as a signatory state of SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) Convention, is obliged to provide and make available updated hydrographic information to mariners. The updated nautical/hydrographic information will replace age old nautical/hydrographic data available in the existing relevant nautical charts. The Sri Lanka Navy Hydrographic Service expects to publish this information through new national series paper charts and electronic navigation charts in the near future. This will benefit the large international shipping traffic passing the waters of Sri Lanka.
Chief Hydrographer of the Navy Rear Admiral Sisira Jayakody, Defence Advisor to the High Commission of India in Sri Lanka were also present at the ceremony.
