Srı Lanka Hıstorıc Voyage

epa02124114 Sri Lanka Navy Commander Thisara SamarasingheThe Jewel of Muscat Captain Saleh Al Jabr exchange mementos after the welcome reception at the Sri Lankan harbour in Galle 116 kms south of Colombo 19 April 2010. The Jewel of Muscat, a replica of a 9th century Arab trading vessel is on an historic voyage from Oman to Singapore, tracing the ancient trading route of the Arabs to the east. The 18-metre-long vessel left the Kerala port of Cochin in India on April 10thsailed through a tropical storm to arrive in Galle today. The replica, built with woodcoconut fibrewithout a single metal nail, is a model of the wreck of a timber-and-coconut rope dhow salvaged about 12 years ago from Indonesia?s Belitung Straitsthe original Jewel of Muscat had sunk. This is a gift from Oman to Singaporeset sail on February 16th from the Omani port of Sultan Qaboos,adhering to the 9th century navigation techniques. From Galle in Sri Lanka the ship will sail across the Bay of Bengal through the Straits of Malacca to Singaporeit will be displayed in a museum. It is expected to reach Singapore in June this year.  EPA/M.A.PUSHPA KUMARA