Date:10/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/10/stories/2008091061111200.htm

National

Canadian naval ships to visit Chennai today

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Two ships of the Canadian Navy will make a three-day stopover in Chennai from Wednesday, on their return journey after a four-month counter-terrorism deployment in the Arabian Sea.

More than 100 sailors have volunteered to work at Servasev Vidhyalaya School at Manithottam and the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation.

They will tap the Task Force Arabian Sea (TFAS) Commander’s contingency fund to buy computers, geometry boxes, library books and laboratory materials for the school. Binoculars, digital cameras, laptop computers and assorted stationary will be donated to the foundation, says a release issued by the Canadian High Commission.

The sailors plan to do earthwork for construction of a new cultural and heritage hall for the school. They will also help in the construction of a brick wall and white-washing of newly constructed classrooms.

At the foundation, they will give a coat of paint to the exterior of a small building and clean the rainwater harvesting pond.

The warship, Calgary, and the oil replenishment ship, Protecteur, left Canada on April 13.

The third ship of the taskforce, Iroquois, will remain in the Arabian Sea till the end of the month and hand over charge to Absalon, a Danish warship.