‘SLINEX 2019’, the bilateral maritime exercise between India and Sri Lanka concluded in the Bay of Bengal with the completion of Sea Phase on September 12. The Sri Lankan Navy, Indian Navy ships along with Maritime Patrol Aircraft carried out various coordinated maritime operations. Sri Lankan Navy ships Sindurala and Suranimila, and India's INS Khukri, INS Sumedha and Maritime Patrol Aircraft participated in the Sea Phase of the SLINEX 2019.

The seventh bilateral Joint Indo-Lanka Maritime Fleet Exercise

The bilateral maritime exercise commenced on September 7. Sri Lankan Navy had sent two offshore patrol vessels SLNS Sindurala and SLNS Suranimala to India to participate in seventh annual Joint Indo-Lanka Maritime Fleet Exercise- SLINEX 2019. The offshore patrol vessels, SLNS Sindurala and Suranimala left from Trincomalee Port in Sri Lanka for India and arrived in the port of Visakhapatnam on September 8.

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About SLINEX

SLINEX (Sri Lanka India Naval Exercise) was attended by more than 300 Sri Lankan Navy personnel including Flag Officer Commanding the Naval Fleet. The week-long joint Naval exercise featured wide-ranging naval exercises including helicopter operations. "The exercise signifies the desire of both countries to enhance co-operation and to further strengthen mutual trust and interoperability between the two navies," Sri Lankan Navy was quoted by Colombo Page as saying. "Further, it will enable both navies to rehearse and improve own capabilities and enhance operational effectiveness required to maintain maritime security in the Indian Ocean region," it said. The first-ever SLINEX exercise took place in 2005.

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