In a manifestation of the strong political, diplomatic, economic, cultural, and defence ties between the two friendly countries, Pakistan naval ship Shamsheer will reach Sri Lanka on a four-day goodwill visit from November 30 to December 3.

Pakistan Navy ships pay port calls to Sri Lanka on frequent basis, with the aim to further strengthen the existing strong relationship between the two countries, said a statement issued here on Sunday. Shamsheer derives its name from the traditional word "Shamsheer", which means sword and is a special type of saber with a 5-15 degree curve from top to tip. Swords are considered a symbol of valour for Muslims.

The first ship of the class inducted in the Pakistan Navy was HMPS Shamsheer (F-252), which was inherited at the time of independence. It served the Pakistan Navy as an anti-submarine frigate as well as training ship for cadets and sailors till 1960. The second ship was a Leander class ASW Frigates (F-263) acquired from the British Royal Navy in July 1988 and served the Pakistan Navy till July 2002.

The present naval ship was launched on October 31, 2008 and was commissioned in the Pakistan Navy on December 19, 2009. The ship sailed for her maiden passage for the homeland on December 25, 2009. During their stay at Colombo, the officers and men of the Pakistan Navy would also take part in various professional activities with the Sri Lanka Navy.

Pakistan and Sri Lanka have strong defence ties and both navies engage in multifaceted cooperation. The Pakistan Navy personnel provide a number of conventional training courses to their Sri Lankan counterparts, while the Sri Lanka Navy shares its experience and expertise with regard to anti-terrorism operations at sea.

(Daily Times)