Accepting the invitation extended by the Sri Lanka Navy two Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF) ships, Harusame DD-102 and Amagiri DD-154 arrived in the island on 01st December 2014 to attend the Galle Dialogue International Maritime Security Conference. They were welcomed by the Sri Lanka Navy in accordance with naval traditions on arrival at the Port of Colombo.
The mission, Commander Escort Division II, Captain Masatoshi Kashihara and Ships’ Commanding Officers, Commander Masanobu Takasuga and Commander Kunio Aoki are due to attend the Galle Dialogue 2014 been held in port city of Galle from 01st to 02nd December 2014.
Prior to proceeding to the conference venue at the Lighthouse Hotel in Galle the mission Commander accompanied by the ships Commanding Officers call on Deputy Area Commander of the Western Naval Command, Commodore, KG Paul of the Sri Lanka Navy at the Western Naval Command Headquarters in Colombo. They held cordial discussions and exchanged mementos as a gesture of goodwill.
“Harusame” and “Amagiri” are both destroyers, which are 151 meters and 137 meters in length respectively. “Harusame” has a displacement of 4,550 tons while “Amagiri” has a displacement of 3,550 tons. Harusame consists of a complement of 170 naval personnel and Amagiri consists of a complement of 220 naval personnel onboard.