• The navies of India and Sri Lanka kicked off a four-day maritime exercise — SLINEX (Sri Lanka India Naval Exercise) — on March 7 with an aim to enhance their operational cooperation.

• SLINEX exemplifies the deep maritime engagement between India and Sri Lanka that has grown in scope over the years to strengthen mutual cooperation, in consonance with India’s policy of ‘Neighbourhood First’. 

• It is the ninth edition of SLINEX. The previous edition of SLINEX was conducted off Trincomalee in October 2020.

• The exercise is being conducted in two phases — the harbour phase at Visakhapatnam from March 7-8 followed by the sea phase from March 9-10 in the Bay of Bengal.

• The Indian Navy has deployed guided missile corvette INS Kirch, fleet support tanker INS Jyoti as well as a fleet of Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) Sea King and Chetak helicopters and Dornier maritime patrol aircraft for the exercise.

• The Sri Lankan Navy is being represented by SLNS Sayurala, an advanced offshore patrol vessel.

• The SLINEX aims to enhance inter-operability, improve mutual understanding and exchange best practices and procedures for multi-faceted maritime operations between both navies.

• The drills during the sea phase will include surface and anti-air weapon firing exercises, seamanship evolutions, cross deck flying, advanced tactical manoeuvres and special forces operations at sea.

Other military exercise with Sri Lanka

India and Sri Lanka conducted the 8th edition of mega military exercise — Mitra Shakti — in October 2021 at the Combat Training School in Sri Lanka’s Ampara.

Manorama Yearbook app is now available on Google Play Store and iOS App Store