The ninth edition of the India – Sri Lanka Bilateral Maritime Exercise, aka SLINEX (Sri Lanka–India Naval Exercise), has been launched at Visakhapatnam. This is an annual event that exercises the maritime capabilities of India and Sri Lanka. The previous edition took place off the waters of Trincomalee, Sri Lanka in October 2020.
About the SLINEX
SLINEX consists of two stages: the Harbour Phase and the Sea Phase. The Harbour Phase occurs in Visakhapatnam and includes a range of cultural, social, professional, and sporting exchanges between the two nations. Following this, the Sea Phase takes place in the Bay of Bengal. During this phase, several activities related to naval operations are conducted. These include advanced tactical manoeuvres, surface and anti-air weapon firing exercises, aviation operations which include cross-deck flying, special forces operations at sea, and seamanship evolutions.
Navy Fleet Participation
The Sri Lanka Navy is represented by SLNS Sayurala, an offshore patrol vessel with advanced features. The Indian Navy counterpart is INS Kirch, which is classified as a guided missile corvette. Other participants from the Indian side include INS Jyoti, a fleet support tanker, as well as several aircraft and helicopters. These include the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), Seaking and Chetak helicopters, and the Dornier Maritime Patrol Aircraft.
The Goals of SLINEX
The overarching aim of SLINEX is to promote interoperability and mutual understanding between the Indian and Sri Lankan navies. Furthermore, it encourages sharing of best practices and procedures for multi-faceted maritime operations. This exercise is an excellent representation of the deep maritime engagement that exists between India and Sri Lanka. Over the years, it has increased in scope and scale to enhance cooperation between the two nations. This aligns with India’s policy of ‘Neighbourhood First’ and its vision of ‘Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR)’.
Other Joint Maritime Exercises between India and Sri Lanka
Apart from SLINEX, there are other joint military exercises that India and Sri Lanka participate in. These include Exercise MITRA SHAKTI, a military-focused training, and Dosti Trilateral Exercise which involves the Coast Guards of India, Maldives, and Sri Lanka. Lastly, there was the PYQ ‘Hand-in-Hand 2007’, a joint anti-terrorism military training held by officers of the Indian Army along with their counterparts from another country, which turned out to be China as per the 2008 records.
Last Modified: February 15, 2024