The 26th edition of the India-Sri Lanka bilateral maritime exercise, SLINEX-26, concluded successfully at the Eastern Naval Command headquarters in Visakhapatnam, marking another milestone in the growing defence cooperation between the two neighbouring nations.

The exercise, conducted in two phases, brought together warships, aircraft and naval personnel from both countries to enhance interoperability and strengthen maritime security cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region. The harbour phase focused on professional interactions, training exchanges and planning sessions, while the sea phase involved a series of complex manoeuvres, including anti-submarine warfare drills, surface and air defence exercises, search-and-rescue operations, and coordinated tactical manoeuvres.

Senior naval officials from both the Indian Navy and the Sri Lanka Navy participated in the closing ceremony, where they praised the seamless coordination displayed by the participating units throughout the exercise. Officials noted that SLINEX has evolved significantly since its inception, now encompassing a broader range of naval capabilities and reflecting the deepening strategic partnership between New Delhi and Colombo.

The exercise is part of India’s continued efforts to bolster maritime security architecture in the region through the SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) initiative, which emphasises collaborative engagement with maritime neighbours. Sri Lanka, given its strategic location along key shipping lanes in the Indian Ocean, remains a vital partner in India’s regional security framework.

Defence officials highlighted that exercises like SLINEX not only enhance combat readiness and operational synergy between the two navies but also reinforce mutual trust and long-standing bilateral ties. Both sides expressed satisfaction over the outcomes of this year’s edition and reaffirmed their commitment to continuing such joint engagements in the future, with plans already underway for the next edition of the exercise.

The successful conclusion of SLINEX-26 comes amid broader efforts by India to strengthen its naval diplomacy and maritime partnerships across the Indian Ocean Region, ensuring collective security and stability in one of the world’s most strategically significant maritime corridors.