INS Sharda concluded a bilateral port call at Colombo on 13 June 2026, conducting professional exchanges, cross‑deck visits and specialised shipboard training with the Sri Lankan Navy under India’s MAHASAGAR policy.
MAHASAGAR doctrine
- Full form: Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions; builds on 2015 SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region).
- Core pillars: Trade for Development; Capacity Building; Mutual Security.
- Dialogue mechanism: Bi‑annual Indian Navy virtual dialogue with ten Indian Ocean Region states, including Comoros, Kenya, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles and Tanzania.
Operational cooperation with Sri Lanka
- Port call activities: Professional exchanges, cross‑deck visits and specialised tactical training to enhance interoperability.
- Training modules: Tactical gunnery; damage control; medical response; search and rescue.
- Institutional exercise: SLINEX is the primary India–Sri Lanka naval exercise; 12th edition conducted in August 2025.
- Maritime geography: Sri Lanka lies adjacent to major Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs); access to its ports supports Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA).
IASPOINT Booster Facts
- INS Sharda: Sukanya‑class offshore patrol vessel; fitted with a 76 mm main gun; capable of operating Chetak/advanced light helicopters.
- MAHASAGAR functions: Port infrastructure coordination, logistics integration, capacity building, technology transfers, joint surveillance and satellite data pooling.
- Regional architecture: India, Sri Lanka and Maldives form the core of the Colombo Security Conclave addressing piracy, trafficking and cyber threats.