On Wednesday, Indian Navy ships Magar and Shardul participated in a Maritime Partnership Exercise off the coast of Colombo with Sri Lankan Navy ships Samudura (OPV) and Nandimithra (Fast Missile Vessel). This event occurred after Indian Navy ships returned from a three-day visit to Sri Lanka as part of the Indian Navy’s First Training Squadron’s Overseas Deployment.
A planned meeting for the drill, which was organised aboard the INS Shardul, was held on October 26 in Colombo port. All of the participating units’ command teams attended the meeting. 12 nautical miles off the coast of Colombo, the drill took place. The ships also participated in multi-ship evolutions such as PUBEX (Publication exercise), Manoeuvrex, and Steam Past. VERTREP (Vertical Replenishment) was also completed on both Sri Lankan ships’ decks by the Chetak chopper (which moored aboard INS Shardul).
One of the greatest and most durable pillars of India-Sri Lanka bilateral defence cooperation has been training, and this visit will provide it a boost. According to the statement, “this visit will positively contribute to strengthening the existing bonds of camaraderie and friendship between defence personnel of both countries,” which is in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s vision of increasing people-to-people connections between the two countries.
The deployment aims to enhance the horizons of young officers and officer-in-training by exposing them to the socio-political and marine aspects of various countries in the Indian Ocean Region. The deployment will also expose the trainees onboard to the operation of IN warships in various sea evolutions, port familiarisation, and, most importantly, the development of friendship bridges with foreign countries.
The Indian Naval Ships Sujata, Magar, Shardul, Sudarshini, Tarangini, and Coast Guard Ship Vikram, as well as the First Training Squadron’s ships, were in Sri Lanka from October 24 to 28 for the 100th and 101st Integrated Officers Training Course. The First Training Squadron’s overseas deployment was intended to enhance young officers’ and officer-in-perspectives training by exposing them to the socio-political and marine challenges of numerous countries in the Indian Ocean region. Throughout the deployment, the trainees were intended to teach the operation of Indian warships in various marine progressions, port familiarisation, and, most importantly, the development of friendship bridges with foreign countries.
The ships are part of the Indian Navy’s Southern Naval Command (SNC), which is led by Vice Admiral AK Chawla, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command (SNC). For more than four decades, the Indian Navy has been training foreign trainees. SNC is also currently enlisting a huge number of Sri Lankan officers and sailors at all levels. The Command has earned the title of premier training facility by remaining committed to providing high-quality training and remaining flexible in the face of changing tactics and technology.
Annual bilateral maritime exercise ‘SLINEX -20’ between Indian navy & Sri Lankan navy
The ships are part of the Indian Navy’s Southern Naval Command (SNC), which is led by Vice Admiral AK Chawla, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command (SNC). For more than four decades, the Indian Navy has been training foreign trainees. SNC is also currently enlisting a huge number of Sri Lankan officers and sailors at all levels. The Command has earned the title of premier training facility by remaining committed to providing high-quality training and remaining flexible in the face of changing tactics and technology.