The two French warships that arrived in Colombo earlier today were in Kochi before arriving in Sri Lanka.
‘They had an elaborate program, both work and play in India,’ said an observer.
According to a report on the Indian Navy website the FNS Tonnerre and Surcouf had arrived in Cochin Port Trust on 30 March on a two day goodwill visit.
‘The ships arrived at Cochin Port Trust on 30 March 2021 and were received by senior naval authorities in the background of fanfare by the naval band, ‘said the report which went on to write that the ships were to depart Kochi on 1 April. The two ships arrived in Sri Lanka some nine weeks later.
In India the crew met with the French Ambassador to India Emmanuel Lenain, the French Joint Forces Commander in the Indian Ocean Rear Admiral Jacques Fayard, the Consul General of France in Puducherry Lise Talbot Barre and the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Southern Naval Command Vice Admiral AK Chawla. The report added that ‘relations between India and France had evolved into a strong partnership especially in the domain of maritime security’.
Meanwhile Asian News International said the two ships were to take part in a France-led jointnaval exercise in the Bay of Bengal from April 5-7 with the navies of India, Australia, Japan and the USA.
While in Sri Lanka the crew are scheduled to visit the cultural triangle and several national parks which will be opened exclusively for their visit. ‘There was a special request to visit the parks’, said another reliable source.Conservationists and wildlife lovers are angry the Sri Lanka authorities have approved this ‘privilege’ at a time the parks are officially closed because of a countrywide lockdown.
Counterpoint rang the French embassy in Colombo this morning for details of the visit and was told that it’s press attache will call back in the afternoon. The embassy has not returned the telephone call so far. (SW)
