Indian, Sri Lankan navies to hold maritime exercise SLINEX-20 from Oct 19-21
The eighth edition of the annual India–Sri Lanka bilateral maritime exercise SLINEX-20 is scheduled to be held off Trincomalee coast of the island nation from October 19 to October 21.
The exercise is being conducted in a non-contact ‘at-sea-only’ format against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Sri Lanka Navy will be represented by SLN Ships Sayura, an off-shore patrol vessel, and Gajabahu, a training ship, led by Rear Admiral Bandara Jayathilaka, the Flag Officer Commanding Naval Fleet, Sri Lanka Navy.
The Indian Navy will be represented by indigenously built ASW corvettes Kamorta and Kiltanunder under the command of Rear Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan, the Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet.
Additionally, Indian Navy Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) and Chetak helicopter embarked onboard Indian Navy ships and Dornier Maritime Patrol Aircraft will also participate in the exercise.
The previous edition of the maritime exercise was conducted off Visakhapatnam coast in September last year.
SLINEX-20 aims to enhance inter-operability, improve mutual understanding and exchange best practices and procedures for multi-faceted maritime operations between both navies. In addition, it will also showcase capabilities of India’s indigenously built naval ships and aircraft, an official release stated.
