The Indian and Sri Lankan navies concluded the 13th edition of their bilateral maritime exercise, SLINEX-26, in Visakhapatnam on 21 September, the Press Information Bureau said on Tuesday.
Held over five days from 17 to 21 September, the exercise gave sailors from both countries a platform for professional interaction, exchange of best practices, and deeper interoperability between the two navies.
The exercise unfolded in two phases. During the harbour phase, personnel from both sides took part in professional exchanges, cross-deck visits and sporting interactions, building camaraderie alongside operational engagement.
The action shifted up a gear in the sea phase, which featured coordinated maritime manoeuvres, air operations, and night replenishment at sea. Special forces from both navies also carried out advanced drills, including Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS) operations and slithering exercises — drills aimed specifically at sharpening operational coordination between the two forces in high-pressure, real-world scenarios.
According to the PIB statement, SLINEX-26 underlines the strength of the India-Sri Lanka maritime partnership and both countries’ shared commitment to a secure and stable Indian Ocean Region. The exercise also feeds into India’s broader maritime vision, MAHASAGAR, and its Neighbourhood First policy, both of which emphasise cooperation, interoperability and capacity-building with regional partners.
The SLINEX series, running for over a decade now, has grown into one of the more established bilateral naval engagements in the Indian Ocean Region, reflecting the steady deepening of defence ties between New Delhi and Colombo.