The 9th Edition of the Bilateral Maritime Exercise SLINEX (Sri Lanka–India Naval Exercise) between the Indian and the Sri Lankan navies is currently underway in Visakhapatnam. The exercise started on the 7th of March and is scheduled to conclude on the 10th March 2022.
The SLINEX (Sri Lanka–India Naval Exercise) exercise is being conducted in two phases. The first phase, that was the Harbour Phase, was conducted in Visakhapatnam on the 7th and 8th of March, which is being followed by the second phase, that is, the Sea Phase on the 9th and 10th of March 22, in the Bay of Bengal.
SLNS Sayurala is representing the Sri Lanka Navy, which is an advanced offshore patrol vessel. At the same time, the Indian Navy is being represented by INS Kirch, which is a guided missile corvette. Other than INS Kirch, some other participants from the Indian Navy include INS Jyoti – a fleet support tanker, Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), Sea King and Chetak Helicopters and Dornier Maritime Patrol Aircraft.
The previous edition of SLINEX was conducted off Trincomalee in October 2020.
SLINEX Objectives:
SLINEX aims to strengthen interoperability, improve mutual understanding and the exchange best practices and procedures for multi-faceted maritime operations between the navies of the two nations. The Harbour Phase also included professional, cultural, sporting and social exchanges.
The exercises during the Sea Phase will include surface and anti-air weapon firing exercises, seamanship transformations, aviation operations, including cross deck flying, advanced tactical maneuvers and special forces operations at sea. These exercises are aimed at further enhancing the high degree of inter-operability that already exists between the two navies.
Recently, in the second week of February this year, Pune had hosted the ninth edition of the Army to Army Staff Talks (AAST) between the envoys from the Indian Army and Sri Lankan Army, which was held with an aim to strengthen the bilateral defence ties between two nations.
Mitra Shakti is another annual aspect of India-Sri Lanka military exercise. Two years after the 7th edition of ‘Mitra Shakti’ was held at Foreign Training Node in Pune in 2019, the 8th edition of the ‘Mitra Shakti’ was conducted at Combat Training School, Ampara in Sri Lanka in October 2021. The exercise aims to promote close relations between the armies of both the countries and enhance inter-operability and sharing best practices in counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations.
SLINEX illustrates the deep maritime engagement between India and Sri Lanka and has grown in scope over the years to strengthen mutual cooperation, in accordance with the Indian policy of ‘Neighbourhood First’ and ‘Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR)’.
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