10th Edition of annual Indian Navy - Sri Lanka Navy bilateral maritime exercise SLINEX-2023 commences at Colombo

The 10th Edition of annual Indian Navy - Sri Lanka Navy bilateral maritime exercise SLINEX-2023 commenced at Colombo yesterday. The exercise is being conducted in two phases of three days each, the Harbour Phase followed by the Sea Phase. The Indian Naval Ships INS Kiltan and INS Saavitri arrived yesterday to participate in the bilateral exercise. In addition, Indian Navy's Chetak helicopter and Dornier Maritime Patrol Aircraft along with Sri Lankan Air Force Dornier and BEL 412 helicopters would also participate. 

Both Indian Naval ships were kept open for visitors during the harbour phase which had a footfall of 500 visitors including school children.

A Coordinated Indian Navy-Sri Lanka Navy Band Performance in collaboration with Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre was also organized at Dutch Hospital in Colombo.

The previous edition of SLINEX was conducted in Visakhapatnam from 7th to 12th of March last year.

Commander of Sri Lanka Navy, Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera, and Deputy High Commissioner of India, Vinod K.



Jacob, took part in the opening of SLINEX-2023. High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, Gopal Baglay is scheduled to host the State Minister of Defence, Premitha Bandara Tennakoon onboard the Indian Naval ships tomorrow.

SLINEX-2023 will aim to enhance inter-operability, improve mutual understanding and exchange best practices and procedures in multi-faceted Maritime operations between both Navies. The Harbour Phase would include sports fixtures, yoga sessions and cultural events which would provide an opportunity for personnel from both navies to learn from each other, and re-enforce shared values as well as build bonds of friendship and camaraderie.

The annual maritime exercise exemplifies the deep engagement between India and Sri Lanka which has strengthened mutual cooperation in the maritime domain. Interaction between the navies of the two countries has also grown significantly in recent years, in consonance with India’s policy of ‘Neighbourhood First’ and the vision of ‘Security and Growth for all in the Region' (SAGAR)’.