Indian Navy – Sri Lanka Navy Maritime Exercise SLINEX-20 off Trincomalee

The Eighth Edition of annual Indian Navy (IN) - Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) bilateral maritime exercise SLINEX-20 took place off Trincomalee, Sri Lanka from 19 to 21 October 2020, the Indian High Commission said. The Sri Lanka Navy was 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, represented the Indian Navy. In addition, Indian Navy Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) and Chetak helicopter embarked onboard IN ships, and Dornier Maritime Patrol Aircraft also participated. The previous edition of SLINEX was conducted off Visakhapatnam in September 2019.

SLINEX series of exercise exemplifies the deep engagement between India and Sri Lanka which has strengthened mutual 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 Honourable 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 was conducted in a non-contact ‘at-sea-only’ format in the backdrop of COVID-19 pandemic.