India-Sri Lanka maritime exercise begins in Visakhapatnam

The India-Sri Lanka bilateral maritime exercise has begun at the Visakhapatnam port.

The India-Sri Lanka bilateral maritime exercise, known as SLINEX, started at the Visakhapatnam port on Monday. This is the ninth edition of the two-phase naval exercise.

The first phase - the harbour phase - is underway at the Visakhapatnam port and will continue till Tuesday. It will be followed by the sea phase on March 9 and 10 in the Bay of Bengal.

The Sri Lanka Navy is being 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 (ALH), Seaking and Chetak helicopters and Dornier maritime patrol aircraft. The previous edition of SLINEX was conducted off Trincomalee in October 2020. "SLINEX aims to enhance inter-operability, improve mutual understanding and exchange best practices and procedures for multi-faceted maritime operations between both navies," a government statement said.

The harbour phase would include professional, cultural, sporting and social exchanges. Exercises during the sea phase will include surface and anti-air weapon firing exercises, seamanship evolution, 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 government said. "SLINEX 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 the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of ‘Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR)’," it said.