The Indian Navy and Sri Lanka Navy have commenced the 13th edition of their annual bilateral maritime exercise, SLINEX-26, at Visakhapatnam.
Scheduled from September 17 to 21, 2026, the five-day drills aim to enhance operational synergy, interoperability, and mutual trust between the two neighbouring naval forces.
The Indian Navy is participating with two prominent warships: INS Kavaratti, an indigenous Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Stealth Corvette, and INS Jyoti, a Fleet Tanker. Representing the Sri Lanka Navy is the Advanced Offshore Patrol Vessel SLNS Sindurala.
Structured in two distinct phases—Harbour Phase and Sea Phase—the exercise officially opened under the aegis of the Indian Navy’s Eastern Naval Command. The Harbour Phase kicked off with a welcome ceremony and formal reception onboard INS Kavaratti for the visiting Sri Lankan crew. Activities during this period focus on professional interactions, cross-deck visits, subject-matter expert exchanges, yoga sessions, sports, and cultural events designed to foster camaraderie.
Following the harbour engagements, the navies will transition into the Sea Phase off the coast of Visakhapatnam. This operational segment will feature coordinated tactical manoeuvres, seamanship evolutions, surface and air defence tracking, and joint maritime security protocols aimed at tightening seamanship response capability.
First conceptualised in 2005, the SLINEX series has grown into a cornerstone of bilateral defence relations between India and Sri Lanka. Navy officials highlighted that SLINEX-26 directly aligns with India’s overarching MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) vision, which stresses a secure, stable, and inclusive maritime domain across the Indian Ocean Region.
