Visakhapatnam: Ninth edition of India-Sri Lanka Naval Exercise SLINEX begins

The ninth edition of India-Sri Lanka Naval Exercise, SLINEX, is scheduled at Visakhapatnam from today to this Thursday. The exercise is being conducted in two phases, the Harbour Phase at Visakhapatnam on 07 to 08 March this year, followed by the Sea Phase on 09 to 10 March in the Bay of Bengal.

The 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.

SLINEX aims at enhancing inter-operability, improving mutual understanding and exchanging best practices and procedures for multi-faceted maritime operations between both navies. The Harbour Phase would include professional, cultural, sporting and social exchanges.

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.