Visiting Indian naval ship hosts reception |30 June 2017

A reception was organised on Tuesday night to mark the arrival of the Indian naval ship Sunaya in Port Victoria.

Continuing the historic tradition since 1976, a naval contingent from the INS Sunaya took part in the National Day parade yesterday.

Guests at the reception were welcomed onboard by the Commanding Officer Vikas Guleria.

Among the guests were the High Commissioner of India to Seychelles Ausaf Sayeed, the Minister for Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine Maurice Loustau-Lalanne, the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Wavel Ramkalawan, National Assembly members, and members of the Seychelles People’s Defence Forces.

In his welcoming speech HC Sayeed noted the strong relationship that exists between Seychelles and India.

“As you aware, India has been maintaining the tradition of sending its naval ships, helicopters, paratroopers, armed forces contingents and the famous naval band to participate in Seychelles’ National Day celebrations for the past four decades. This year too it is a great honour for the Indian Navy to participate in the National Day celebrations of the Republic of Seychelles,” he said.

 “India and Seychelles enjoy strong bonds of friendship based on civilization links and age old people to people contacts. Our bilateral relations are rooted in history, age-old economic, social and cultural interactions.

The strong foundations of our past have enabled us to nurture multi faceted relations in recent times. Seychelles has been a bright spark in the comity of African nations,” he added.

During the ceremony Commander Guleria handed over 18 musical instruments to the deputy Chief of Defence Forces Clifford Roseline.

As for the parade yesterday afternoon, 24 members from the INS Sunaya took part in the march past as well as the naval band. There was also an aerial display by the Chetak helicopter.

The INS Sunaya leaves Seychelles today.