INS Khanjar visits Sri Lanka as part of ongoing efforts to increase interoperability, camaraderie

Continuing with the process of strengthening interoperability with naval forces of friendly countries, Indian Naval Ship INS Khanjar carried out a Maritime Partnership Exercise with a Sri Lankan Naval Ship off Trincomalee on July 31, 2023.

The successful Passage Exercise (PASSEX) with SLNS Sagara took place on the last day of the Indian Naval Ship's three-day visit to Sri Lanka. INS Khanjar is an indigenously built Missile Corvette of Khukri-class. The exercise included Communication Training and Tactical Maneuvering Training drills.

According to the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka, the visit is significant in view of the potential for cooperation between India and Sri Lanka for augmenting capabilities of the Sri Lankan Navy for efficiently addressing shared challenges for maritime security in the region.

While there, the Commanding Officer of the Indian Naval Ship, Commander NVS Phani Kumar called on Commander Eastern Naval Area. During the ship’s stay in the island, the crew members of INS Khanjar took part in several programmes including a yoga and a beach cleaning drive, with a view to enhancing cooperation between two navies.

Further, various professional interactions were conducted on Visit Board Search & Seize (VBSS), Gunnery and Missile Operations. A reception was hosted onboard for senior officials from Sri Lanka's military and civil administration.

Indian Naval Submarine Vagir had earlier visited Colombo from June 19-22, 2023 for celebrating the International Day of Yoga (IDY-2023). "Visits by Indian Navy vessels to Sri Lanka further strengthen the camaraderie and interoperability between the Navies of the two neighbours, in keeping with India’s SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) doctrine and ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy," the Indian High Commission noted.

During a visit to India in May this year, Sri Lankan Navy Commander Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera held discussions to deepen maritime connections between the two countries in line with the shared commitment to maintaining security in the region. He met Indian Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar on May 24, 2023, and discussed a range of issues aimed at ensuring greater cooperation between the two navies.

The two Chiefs had a fruitful interaction with discussions on avenues of further enhancing naval cooperation, laying emphasis on the collaborative mechanisms towards ensuring peace & security in the India Ocean region, the Indian Navy had said.

India and Sri Lanka share a close and historically significant relationship, and both the countries have engaged closely towards reinforcing the existing relations. The two countries have enhanced their interactions in the maritime domain substantially in accordance with India’s ‘Neighbourhood First Policy’ and the maritime outlook of ‘Security and Growth for All in Region’.

The Indian Navy cooperates with the Sri Lanka Navy through various initiatives, which include operational interactions such as the bilateral naval exercise SLINEX, hydrography, training, and other maritime avenues.