New Delhi, Sep 23. The 13th edition of the India-Sri Lanka bilateral maritime exercise SLINEX-26 concluded at Visakhapatnam reinforcing operational cooperation and interoperability between the Indian Navy and Sri Lanka Navy amid the two countries’ shared focus on maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region.
The five-day exercise was conducted from September 17 to 21 and featured a series of professional exchanges, operational activities and joint drills aimed at strengthening coordination and sharing best practices between the two navies.
The harbour phase included professional interactions between personnel of the Indian Navy and Sri Lanka Navy, along with cross-deck visits and sporting activities designed to promote greater understanding and camaraderie between the participating forces.
The exercise moved into an intensive sea phase, during which the two navies conducted coordinated maritime manoeuvres and air operations. The participating forces also undertook night replenishment-at-sea drills, along with Special Forces exercises involving Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS) operations and slithering drills.
The sea-phase activities provided the two navies with opportunities to practise coordinated responses in different operational scenarios and enhance their ability to operate together at sea.
The Ministry of Defence said SLINEX-26 reflected the strong and enduring maritime partnership between India and Sri Lanka and their shared commitment to maintaining a secure and stable Indian Ocean Region.
The exercise also contributes to India’s broader maritime-security approach under the MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) vision and its Neighbourhood First policy by strengthening maritime cooperation, operational interoperability and capacity-building with a key Indian Ocean neighbour.
Regular exercises such as SLINEX have become an important component of India-Sri Lanka defence engagement, providing both navies with a platform to enhance professional ties while improving their preparedness for coordinated maritime operations.
