The five day long Joint Indo – Lanka naval exercise concluded on Friday at the high seas off Trincomalee. Code named SLINEX 2011 , commenced on 19th September was aimed at enhancing interoperability of the two navies. The Sri Lankan Navy said that the drill is expected to provide the opportunity for the neighbouring navies to rehearse the concept of joint naval operations and enhance own skills in order to gain from each other’s experience.

The decision to increase mutual defence cooperation and to hold joint naval exercise was taken during the visit of Defence secretary Pradeep Kumar to Sri Lanka in December 2010. The first Indo-Sri Lankan Naval exercises were held about six years ago, said the Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Ashok K.Kantha.

In 2005, two Indian vessels had participated in an exercise. But since the Eelam War IV intensified since 2006, the exercises, which were to be held annually, were put off. The one vessel that generated a lot of interest was Shivalik, The vessel commissioned in April 2010, is a product of indigenous design, US engines and a mix of Russian and Indian weaponry.

The BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles are also part of its weaponry. The stealth frigate is part of the Eastern Fleet. The Indian Naval ships taking part are INS Ranvijay, INS Shivalik, INS Gharial, INS Khanjar, INS Cheriyam and INS Coradiv, along with integral helicopters and a Dornier Maritime Patrol Aircraft.

The exercise took place under the command of the Rear Admiral HCS
Bisht, Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet, Indian Navy.

The exercise was witnessed by the Indian High Commissioner Ashok K KAntha and the Sri Lankan Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, alongwith a fleet of media , who travelled from Colombo to witness the event.