SLNS Sayura (Sayura, in Sinhalese: Sea) is the Flag ship and an Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) of the Sri Lanka Navy.

She was formerly, the INS Sarayu

INS Sarayu (P54)

INS Sarayu was a Sukanya class patrol vessel of the Indian Navy.The Sarayu was sold to Sri Lanka Navy, where she was renamed as SLNS Sayura. She was recently equipped with Yingi Y-82 anti-ship missiles and surface to air missiles...

, a Sukanya class patrol vessel of the Indian Navy

Indian Navy

The Indian Navy is the naval branch of the armed forces of India. The President of India serves as the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy. The Chief of Naval Staff , usually a four-star officer in the rank of Admiral, commands the Navy...

 sold to Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...

 in 2000. She was upgraded with new armament in India before being delivered to the Sri Lanka Navy. India also committed to providing maintenance and refit of the ship.

Operations

Sayura is tasked with deep sea patrolling both within the Sri Lankan territorial waters and in international waters to curb ongoing arms smuggling by the LTTE. In recent months after undergoing a major refit in India, Sayura, along with other OPVs of the Sri Lankan Navy, has successfully intercepted several ships smuggling arms for the LTTE. In all these cases the ships were sunk when the LTTE Sea Tigers attacked the naval vessels with mortar

Mortar (weapon)

A mortar is an indirect fire weapon that fires explosive projectiles known as bombs at low velocities, short ranges, and high-arcing ballistic trajectories. It is typically muzzle-loading and has a barrel length less than 15 times its caliber....

s. Sayura also participated in the Cadex 2009

Cadex 2009

Cadex 2009 was a military training exercise involving the Indian Navy, Sri Lanka Navy and the Indian Coast Guard. The three day long training exercise was held from 6 October to 8 October 2009. Training exercises between the two countries had been held annually, but this had been delayed because of...

 military training exercises with the Indian Navy

Indian Navy

The Indian Navy is the naval branch of the armed forces of India. The President of India serves as the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy. The Chief of Naval Staff , usually a four-star officer in the rank of Admiral, commands the Navy...

after the war.

INS Sarayu

Commissioned 10 April 1991, INS Sarayu (P54) served with the Indian Navy until she was sold to Sri Lanka on November 1, 2000.

External links

• Sri Lanka Navy
• SUKANYA CLASS
• Defenders of the ocean receive heroes’ welcome on their triumphant return to home base
• https://www.navy.lk/assets/files/news/letter_of_commendation.pdf