Indian Naval Ships Join SLINEX 25 in Colombo

Introduction

Indian Naval Ships Join SLINEX 25 in Colombo: The Sri Lanka–India Naval Exercise (SLINEX-25) began in Colombo on 14 August 2025 with the arrival of INS Rana, a guided missile destroyer, and INS Jyoti, a fleet tanker. Running till 18 August 2025, this 12th edition highlights the growing maritime collaboration under the MAHASAGAR initiative.

Static GK fact: INS Rana is a Rajput-class guided missile destroyer commissioned in 1982, while INS Jyoti is a fleet tanker commissioned in 1996.

Evolution of SLINEX

First conducted in 2005, SLINEX has become a crucial bilateral maritime exercise between India and Sri Lanka. The previous edition, SLINEX-24, was hosted in Visakhapatnam in December 2024. Over the years, it has expanded in scale and scope to strengthen operational interoperability and regional security frameworks.

Static GK fact: Visakhapatnam is the headquarters of the Eastern Naval Command of India.

Structure of the Exercise

The exercise is divided into two phases:

• Harbour Phase (14–16 August 2025): Focused on professional interactions, subject matter expert exchanges (SMEE), cultural programs, yoga sessions, and sports events to build camaraderie.
• Sea Phase (17–18 August 2025): Includes high-intensity drills such as gunnery firing, navigation exercises, communication drills, VBSS operations, and at-sea replenishment.

Participating Forces

The Indian Navy deployed INS Rana and INS Jyoti, while the Sri Lanka Navy contributed SLNS Gajabahu and SLNS Vijayabahu, both advanced offshore patrol vessels. Special Forces units from both navies are engaged in tactical drills, supported by Sri Lanka Air Force BEL-412 helicopters.

Static GK Tip: BEL-412 is a utility helicopter of Canadian origin widely used by the Sri Lanka Air Force.

Significance of SLINEX-25

The exercise strengthens bilateral defence ties and enhances preparedness for joint operations in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). It aligns with India’s MAHASAGAR policy (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions), which emphasizes regional maritime security and cooperative resilience.

Through combined drills, the navies aim to tackle challenges like piracy, illegal fishing, trafficking, and disaster response, reinforcing trust and operational synergy.

Static GK fact: The Indian Ocean Region is the third-largest oceanic division in the world, covering 20% of Earth’s surface water.

Strategic Context

For India, SLINEX is part of its broader neighbourhood-first and Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) policy. For Sri Lanka, the exercise ensures stronger maritime security partnerships and improved naval capacity. Together, these efforts enhance the security architecture of South Asia.

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Indian Naval Ships Join SLINEX 25 in Colombo: