Japanese naval ships dock at Sri Lanka's Colombo Port

Sri Lanka Navy, in accordance with naval traditions, welcomed two Japanese naval ships arrived at the Port of Colombo Thursday. 

The two Japanese ships, Akebono DD- 108 and Hamagiri DD- 155, arrived at the Colombo Port for logistics requirements on April 25th, Sri Lanka Navy said. 

The ships were en route for Counter Piracy Operations off the Coast of Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden. 

Head of the team, Commander Escort Division 6, Captain Tsutomu Iwasawa and Ships Commanding Officers, Commander Katsuyoshi Motoyama and Commander Tetsuro Sato 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, the Navy said. 

The 151-meters long Akebono is a destroyer with two helicopters onboard and has a displacement of 4,550 tons. The ship is carrying 190 naval personnel. 

Hamagiri,a 137-meter long destroyer with a helicopter onboard has a displacement of 3,550 tons and consists of a complement of 220 naval personnel. 

The Japanese naval personnel will participate in a special programme organized by the Sri Lanka Navy during their stay in Sri Lanka. 

The visiting Japanese ships are scheduled to leave Sri Lanka Friday.