By Easwaran Rutnam The Navy defended the decision to acquire used ships from other countries saying they have always served its purpose. Navy Chief of staff, Rear Admiral Piyal De Silva said that the Navy maintains the used ships well and they are often in good condition. He said that used ships have in the recent past been involved in several key operations at sea. Rear Admiral Piyal De Silva said that even a ship which was gifted to Sri Lanka in August by the US is a used vessel. The ship is scheduled to reach Sri Lanka next year and Rear Admiral Piyal De Silva said that the ship is expected to play a key part in the Navy operations at sea. The US Coast Guard handed over the high endurance cutter, formerly the USCGC Sherman, to the Sri Lankan Navy in August. The cutter will be the largest ship in the Sri Lankan fleet and will increase Sri Lanka’s ability to patrol its exclusive economic zone, providing additional security for ships from all nations that transit the busy sea lanes of the Indian Ocean. The ship measures 115 metres long and when fully staffed carries a crew of 167. The new ship will join the SLNS Samudura, also a former US Coast Guard vessel that was gifted to Sri Lanka in 2004.