Underlining the deep Defence ties with Sri Lanka, the ninth Edition of India-Sri Lanka Bilateral Maritime Exercise SLINEX (Sri Lanka–India Naval Exercise) commenced on Monday in Visakhapatnam. The four-day exercise is being conducted in two stages including the harbour phase at Visakhapatnam on Monday and Tuesday followed by sea phase for the next two days in the Bay of Bengal.
Sri Lanka Navy will be represented by SLNS Sayurala, an advanced offshore patrol vessel and the Indian Navy by INS Kirch, a guided missile corvette. Other participants from the Indian Navy include INS Jyoti, a fleet support tanker, advanced light helicopter, Seaking and Chetak helicopters and Dornier maritime patrol aircraft. The previous edition of SLINEX was conducted off Trincomalee in October 2020, navy officials said here on Monday.
The SLINEX aims to enhance inter-operability, improve mutual understanding and exchange best practices and procedures for multi-faceted maritime operations between both navies. The harbor phase includes professional, cultural, sporting and social exchanges, they said. Exercises during Sea Phase will include surface and anti-air weapon firing exercises, seamanship evolutions, aviation operations including cross deck flying, advanced tactical manoeuvres and special forces operations at sea. These will further enhance the high degree of inter-operability already existing between the two navies.
The drill exemplifies the deep maritime engagement between India and Sri Lanka and has grown in scope over the years to strengthen mutual cooperation, in consonance with India’s policy of ‘Neighbourhood First’ and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR)’.