SLINEX-25 sets sail in Colombo

The Sri Lanka–India Naval Exercise 2025 (SLINEX-25), a bilateral naval exercise between Sri Lanka and India, was officially launched today (14 August 25) aboard the Sri Lanka Naval Ship (SLNS) Vijayabahu at Colombo Port, presided over by the Deputy Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Dr. Satyanjal Pandey along with the attendance of the Director General Operations, Rear Admiral Buddhika Liyanagamage.

The 12th edition of SLINEX, hosted by the Sri Lanka Navy this year, is aimed at enhancing cooperation and fostering tactical interoperability between the two navies through a series of coordinated operational exercises. At SLINEX-25 the Indian Navy is represented by the tanker-class INS Jyoti and the destroyer-class INS Rana, while the Sri Lanka Navy has deployed SLNS Vijayabahu and SLNS Sayura.

The Harbour Phase, running from 14 to 16 August at the Colombo Port, will feature operational briefings, knowledge-sharing sessions on communication and security protocols with the attendance of Sri Lanka and Indian naval personnel as well as those from Sri Lanka Air Force. Additionally, a Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) training session was held at the Rapid Reaction Boat Squadron Headquarters.

The Sea Phase, scheduled for 17 and 18 August will feature a wide range of maritime exercises including Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure, Screening Exercises, Flashing Exercises, Gunnery Exercises, Vertical Replenishment and Abeam/ Astern Fuelling Approaches.

Sri Lanka and India, as key partners committed to safeguarding the Indian Ocean Region, initiated their maiden bilateral naval exercise in Colombo in 2005 to bolster cooperation and enhance strategic engagement in addressing emerging challenges, including non-traditional maritime threats to regional security. Since its inception, the exercise has been conducted alternately in both countries.

The inaugural ceremony was attended by diplomats from the Indian High Commission, Deputy Chief of Staff and Commander Western Naval Area, Rear Admiral Chandima Silva, senior officers from Navy Headquarters and Western Naval Command, Commanding Officers of ships taking part in the exercise and a group of senior officers from the Sri Lanka Air Force.