US landing-ship visits Trincomalee for 'community work'

[TamilNet, Sunday, 18 July 2010, 09:13 GMT]
Sailors and marines from the amphibious dock landing ship USS Pearl Harbour, visiting Trincomalee last week were engaged in repairing broken bathroom sinks and toilets at the base hospital in Moothoor, said the official website of the United States Navy Thursday. Meanwhile, a Sri Lankan media reported Sunday that Sri Lanka shared her experience in fighting Sea Tigers with the US Navy during the three-day visit of the US Pearl Harbour. While some Sailors and Marines are planning to help with military-to-military training on board Pearl Harbor, others are planning on volunteering for medical assistance events ashore, The Sunday Island said.

"We ripped up every plumbing fixture in the space," said Edberg. "The sink, the toilet and all of the plumbing lines associated with it. To help the local people was a great experience," reported US Navy citing a technician of the visit, adding that the Pearl Harbour Sailors spent off duty hours with local Sri Lankan Navy personnel, sharing experiences and cultures.

The Sri Lankan Navy played a pivotal role in thwarting attempts by the LTTE and the Tamil Diaspora to evacuate the LTTE leadership following the fall of Kilinochchi in the first week of January 2009, the Sunday Island said.

According to Sunday Island, the Indian Navy was the first to receive a first hand experience in Sri Lanka’s naval units fighting the LTTE. The newspaper added citing ‘sources’ that global community should work together to neutralise terrorist threats on security and economic stability.

The visiting ship Pearl Harbor is part of the Peleliu Amphibious Ready Group (PEL ARG) that reports to Commander, Amphibious Force 7th Fleet, Rear Adm. Richard Landolt, who is headquartered in Okinawa, Japan.

The US fleet tried the evacuation of the LTTE leadership during the last days of the war is what Sri Lankan media was telling earlier.

But the US is going to be the ultimate saviour of the Colombo-centric state in the island, is the image that comes out now.

The war crimes investigation initiative, keeping the victims silent, is a farce to ultimately bail out Mahinda Rajapakasa in favour of US control of the entire island, informed circles say.

External Links:

Sunday Island:		Benevolent Phoenix 2010 US Navy: Quality mil-to-mil training, sharing knowledge and experience
Navy.mil:		USS Pearl Harbor Sailors, Marines Participate In Sri Lankan COMREL