SLN fortifies Point Pedro harbour area

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 28 February 2007, 21:17 GMT]
Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) is constructing a large guard post at Point Pedro Munai area near the light house with the aim to reopen Point Pedro harbour which remains closed after the attack on 'City of Liverpool' ship. Myliddy waterfront serves as a temporary unloading wharf but is incapable of handling many vessels simultaneously. The new SLN guard post, while guarding ships unloading at Point Pedro harbour, is also meant to obstruct any Sea Tiger attacks.

SLN patrol boats were seen on duty between Point Pedro Light house area and Kankesanthurai harbour on Tuesday and Wednesday as construction materials were brought to Point Pedro.

Kankesanthurai harbour is used exclusively by the SLN which has a major base there.

As Sri Lanka government employs many vessels to bring goods from Colombo to Jaffna peninsula, Kayts dock too is being used to unload goods. But goods from vessels are unloaded 4 miles into the sea from the coast and brought in smaller boats to the shore.

And the present monsoon weather does not permit easy handling of unloading goods at Kayts. This is another reason for the SLN's hasty construction of the new guard post at Point Pedro.

SLN was seen actively engaged in naval exercises too on Vadamaradchy sea in recent times using smaller type vessels too.

The newly constructed SLN guard post will have Radar fitted Dvora fighter boats besides smaller kinds of combat boats capable of carrying three to four marines.

This area near Point Pedro harbour, already occupied heavily by Sri Lanka Army and Navy troopers, will turn into a garrison port with the construction of the new SLN guard post, Vadmaradchy residents said.

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