SLINEX-20: Maritime exercise between Indian and Sri Lankan Navy underway off Trincomalee
By Sayan Chatterjee Published on 20 Oct 2020 7:48 AM GMT
New Delhi: The eighth edition of the annual Indian Navy (IN) – Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) bilateral maritime exercise SLINEX-20 is scheduled off Trincomalee, Sri Lanka from October 19 to 21.
The Sri Lanka Navy will be represented by SLN Ships Sayura (Offshore Patrol Vessel) and Gajabahu (Training Ship) led by Rear Admiral Bandara Jayathilaka, the Flag Officer Commanding Naval Fleet, Sri Lanka Navy.
Indigenously built ASW corvettes Kamorta and Kiltan under the command of Rear Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan, Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet, will represent the Indian Navy. In addition, Indian Navy Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) and Chetak helicopter embarked onboard IN ships, and Dornier Maritime Patrol Aircraft will also be participating. The previous edition of SLINEX was conducted off Visakhapatnam in September 2019.
SLINEX-20 aims to enhance interoperability, improve mutual understanding, and exchange best practices and procedures for multi-faceted maritime operations between both Navies. In addition, the exercise will also showcase the capabilities of our indigenously constructed naval ships and aircraft. Surface and anti-air exercises including weapon firing, seamanship evolutions, maneuvers and cross deck flying operations are planned during the exercise, which will further enhance the high degree of interoperability already established between the two friendly Navies.
SLINEX series of exercises exemplify the deep engagement between India and Sri Lanka which has strengthened cooperation in the maritime domain. Interaction between the SLN and IN has also grown significantly in recent years, in consonance with India’s policy of ‘Neighbourhood First’ and PM’s vision of ‘Security and Growth for all in the Region (SAGAR)’.
Synergy developed during SLINEX exercises resulted in seamless coordination of joint SLN – IN efforts in September 2020 to render assistance to MT New Diamond, a Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC), which had caught fire off the East Coast of Sri Lanka. The exercise is being conducted in a non-contact ‘at-sea-only’ format in the backdrop of containment measures owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.
