New Delhi: Indian and Sri Lankan warships are operating together off Visakhapatnam as the two navies step up maritime cooperation during Slinex-26, the latest edition of their long-running bilateral naval exercise. The exercise, being held from September 17 to 21, is giving personnel from both sides an opportunity to exchange operational practices in harbour before moving to coordinated activities at sea.
India has deployed INS Kavaratti, an indigenous anti-submarine warfare corvette; and INS Jyoti, the fleet tanker; for the exercise, while Sri Lanka is represented by SLNS Sindurala. The opening harbour phase, conducted under the Eastern Naval Command, began with a ceremony and reception onboard INS Kavaratti for the visiting Sri Lankan crew, followed by professional interactions and cross-deck visits.
The two sides are also sharing operational best practices and taking part in yoga, sports and cultural activities. The exercise will then move into the sea phase, where coordinated activities will focus on improving operational synergy between the two navies.
What is Slinex?
Slinex, short for Sri Lanka-India Exercise, is the bilateral naval exercise through which India and Sri Lanka regularly train and engage with each other at sea. Conceptualized in 2005, the exercise has grown into a regular mechanism for strengthening maritime cooperation, improving familiarity with each other’s procedures and building interoperability between the two navies.
The exercise is conducted in two broad phases, with the harbour phase centred on professional exchanges and interaction between personnel, followed by a sea phase involving operational activities. Earlier editions have featured gunnery firing, communication and navigation drills, helicopter operations, search and rescue, anti-piracy exercises, visit board search and seizure operations and replenishment-at-sea drills.
The previous edition of Slinex-25 was held in Colombo from August 14 to 18, 2025, bringing together INS Jyoti and INS Rana and Sri Lankan navy ships SLNS Sayura and SLNS Vijayabahu. The exercise was conducted in both phases, with activities ranging from professional interactions and best-practice exchanges to firefighting, damage-control, aviation and HADR training, followed by gunnery firing, navigation, communication, seamanship, VBSS and fueling exercises at sea.
Similarly, 2022 edition of Slinex, held in Visakhapatnam, saw the participation of Indian Navy ships INS Jyoti and INS Kirch, along with Dornier aircraft, ALH-Mk III, Sea King and Chetak helicopters, while the Sri Lankan navy was represented by SLNS Sayurala. The sea phase featured joint boarding and slithering operations by the special forces of both navies, over-the-horizon targeting drills, the maiden underway replenishment of a Sri Lankan navy ship with INS Jyoti and deck-landing practices by ALH-Mk III on board SLNS Sayurala.
The two navies also conducted antipiracy drills, gun firing, seamanship exercises, communication procedures and search-and-rescue operations during the second phase. The exercise further strengthened ties between the two maritime neighbours and improved interoperability built through years of joint naval exercises.
Slinex-26 is being conducted in line with India’s Mahasagar vision and forms part of its broader maritime engagement with Sri Lanka. In addition to operational drills, the exercise provides a regular opportunity for the two navies to develop professional relationships, share experience and improve their ability to operate together.
The sea phase is yet to come but the focus will shift from interaction based in the harbor to coordinated activities at sea. The latest edition is expected to further consolidate the longstanding maritime partnership between India and Sri Lanka while contributing to their shared emphasis on a secure and stable maritime environment.