Indian Naval Ships Arrived in Sri Lanka for SLINEX‑25

The Sri Lanka–India Naval Exercise (SLINEX‑25) commenced with the arrival of INS Rana, a guided missile destroyer, and INS Jyoti, a fleet tanker, in Colombo. Held from 14 to 18 August 2025, this 12th edition exemplifies the deepening maritime cooperation between India and Sri Lanka under the MAHASAGAR initiative.

Exercise Overview

SLINEX, conceptualized in 2005, has evolved into a key bilateral maritime exercise aimed at boosting interoperability, maritime cooperation, and the exchange of best practices. SLINEX‑25 follows its previous edition held in Visakhapatnam from 17–20 December 2024.

Phase Structure

• Harbour Phase (14–16 Aug 2025) in Colombo
• Sea Phase (17–18 Aug 2025) in adjacent waters

Participants

• Indian Navy: INS Rana (Guided Missile Destroyer), INS Jyoti (Fleet Tanker)
• Sri Lanka Navy: SLNS Gajabahu and SLNS Vijayabahu (Advanced Offshore Patrol Vessels)
• Special Forces from both navies will also participate across both phases
• Additional assets: Sri Lanka Air Force BEL 412 helicopters are reportedly participating

Harbour Phase Activities

The harbour phase blends professional interaction, subject matter expert exchanges (SMEE), and best practice sharing with cultural and social engagement such as yoga, sports, and camaraderie-building events—all designed to deepen interpersonal and institutional bonds.

Sea Phase Activities

The sea phase will test operational readiness through,

• Gunnery firing serials
• Communication drills
• Navigation and seamanship evolutions
• Visit‑Board‑Search‑Seizure (VBSS) operations
• At‑sea replenishment and fueling

These drills underscore the tactical synergy crucial for joint maritime operations.

Significance & Strategic Context

SLINEX enhances bilateral naval coordination, aligning with India’s broader MAHASAGAR policy—Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions—which underscores regional maritime security and collective resilience.

This exercise reinforces trust, operational synergy, and shared maritime capabilities in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), enhancing both countries’ capacity to address shared security challenges through cooperation.