Indian Naval Ships in Sri Lanka for SLINEX-25

IN NEWS

Indian Naval Ships in Sri Lanka for SLINEX-25

ANALYSIS

1. Context and Overview
   • Indian Naval Ships INS Rana (Guided Missile Destroyer) and INS Jyoti (Fleet Tanker) have reached Colombo, Sri Lanka, to participate in the 12th edition of the Sri Lanka-India Naval Exercise (SLINEX-25).
   • The exercise is scheduled to be held from 14 to 18 August 2025, reinforcing maritime cooperation and strategic partnership between the two neighbouring nations.
2. Background and Evolution
   • Conceptualised in 2005, SLINEX has become a cornerstone of India–Sri Lanka naval cooperation.
   • Over the last two decades, it has served as a key bilateral platform for enhancing interoperability and sharing operational best practices.
   • The previous edition (SLINEX-24) was conducted at Visakhapatnam, India, from 17 to 20 December 2024.
3. Exercise Structure
   • The 2025 edition will be conducted in two phases:
     • Harbour Phase (14–16 August 2025):
       • Venue: Colombo
       • Activities include professional interactions, Subject Matter Expert Exchanges (SMEE), sharing of best practices, cultural and social engagements, yoga sessions, and sports events.
       • Aims to deepen people-to-people and naval ties.
     • Sea Phase (17–18 August 2025):
       • Focus on joint maritime operations and combat drills.
       • Exercises include gunnery firing, communication protocols, navigation and seamanship evolutions, Visit Board Search and Seizure (VBSS) operations, and replenishment at sea.
4. Participating Units
   • India: INS Rana and INS Jyoti.
   • Sri Lanka: SLNS Gajabahu and SLNS Vijayabahu, both Advanced Offshore Patrol Vessels.
   • Special Forces from both navies will also participate, enhancing tactical coordination in maritime security operations.
5. Strategic and Diplomatic Significance
   • SLINEX represents the robust defence partnership and strategic convergence between India and Sri Lanka in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
   • It supports India’s vision of “MAHASAGAR” — Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions.
   • Promotes regional stability, maritime domain awareness, and collective security against transnational maritime threats.
6. Expected Outcomes
   • Enhanced interoperability between the two navies in maritime operations.
   • Strengthened mutual trust, professional collaboration, and operational synergy.
   • Reinforced commitment towards rules-based maritime order and regional peace in the IOR.

STATIC PART

Exercise SLINEX (Sri Lanka-India Naval Exercise)

• Type: Bilateral Naval Exercise
• Inception: 2005
• Conducted Between: Indian Navy and Sri Lankan Navy
• Frequency: Annual/Biennial
• Objective: Strengthen maritime security cooperation and enhance operational coordination.
• Components: Harbour phase (interaction and planning) and Sea phase (operational exercises).
• Alignment: Supports India’s maritime outreach policy under MAHASAGAR and Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) initiatives.

INS Rana (D52)

• Class: Rajput-class Guided Missile Destroyer
• Role: Surface warfare, escort, and fleet defence operations.

INS Jyoti (A58)

• Type: Fleet Replenishment Tanker
• Role: Provides logistics and fuel support for long-range naval deployments.

Updated – 15 Aug 2025 ; 6:58 PM | PIB

News Source:Press Information Bureau (PIB)