Last modified on: 7/30/2010 10:23:23 AM

Naval Deployment Puttalam commissioned as SLNS Thambapanni Naval Deployment Puttalam, which was initially established on 28th December 2008, was ceremonially commissioned as Sri Lanka Naval Ship Thambapanni (SLNS Thambapanni ). The Commissioning Warrant awarded by His Excellency Mahinda Rajapaksa the President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, was awarded to the Commanding Officer SLNS Thambapanni Commander JAJK Perera by the Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy Vice Admiral Thisara Samarasinghe at the commissioning ceremony held on 28th July 2010 organized under the patronage of Commander North Western Naval Area Rear Admiral Ruwan Dias. Religious dignitaries in the area, Commander Western Naval Area, Commander North Central Naval Area, senior officers of the Naval Headquarters and the North-western Naval Command and senior service and government officers in the area were also present at the occasion. The administration of nine Naval Detachments within the axis of 30 kilometers and the providing security for the Puttalam town are carried out by this Naval Base. Further, providing security for the Wilpattu National Park and the surrounding coastal belt, sea surveillance and assisting the fishing industry in the area are some of the prominent tasks assigned to the Naval personnel attached to newly-commissioned SLNS Thambapnni. According to "Mahawamsa", the Great Chronicle, in 543 BC the first human settlement named "Thammana Nuwara" also known as "Thambapanni" which was built by the Prince Vijaya and the group after their arrival on the west coast in the island, is situated close to the new Base. Hence, it was named "Thambapanni". Courtesy : SL Navy