SLINEX-22 | 08 Mar 2022

Why in News

The Ninth Edition of India - Sri Lanka Bilateral Maritime Exercise SLINEX (Sri Lanka–India Naval Exercise) is being conducted at Visakhapatnam.

• The 8^th edition of SLINEX was conducted off Trincomalee, Sri Lanka in October 2020.

What are the Key Points?

• About:
  
  • The exercise is being conducted in two phases, the Harbour Phase at Visakhapatnam followed by the Sea Phase in the Bay of Bengal.
    
    • The Harbour Phase would include professional, cultural, sporting and social exchanges.
    • Sea Phase will include surface and anti-air weapon firing exercises, seamanship evolutions, aviation operations including cross deck flying, advanced tactical manoeuvres and special forces operations at sea.
• Fleet:
  
  • Sri Lanka Navy will be represented by SLNS Sayurala, an advanced offshore patrol vessel and the Indian Navy by INS Kirch, a guided missile corvette.
  • Other participants from the Indian Navy,
    
    • INS Jyoti, a Fleet support tanker.
    • Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH).
    • Seaking and Chetak Helicopters.
    • Dornier Maritime Patrol Aircraft.
• Aim:
  
  • It aims to enhance interoperability, improve mutual understanding and exchange best practices and procedures for multi-faceted maritime operations between both navies.
  • SLINEX exemplifies the deep maritime engagement between India and Sri Lanka and has grown in scope over the years to strengthen mutual cooperation, in consonance with India’s policy of ‘Neighbourhood First’ and vision of ‘Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR)’.

What are the other Exercises between India and Sri Lanka?

• Exercise MITRA SHAKTI (Military Exercise)
• Dosti Trilateral Exercise (Coast guard India, Maldives and Sri Lanka).

Source: PIB