Indo-Lanka joint Naval exercise ends with success

An Indo-Sri Lanka joint Naval training exercise concluded successfully yesterday, the Sri Lanka Navy said.

It identified the effort as one which strengthened bilateral ties and consolidated naval cooperation between the two neighboring countries. On the direction of Defence Secretary Dr. Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy Vice Admiral Thisara Samarasinghe in close cooperation with his Indian counterpart Admiral Nirmal Verma posted the two Indian vessels INS Shardul and INCGS Varuna on a goodwill mission for elaborate training exercises along with Sri Lanka Navy vessels SLNS Sayura, and SLNS Samudura.

The exercise code-named ‘Cadex 2009’, involving 100 officer under trainees of the Sri Lanka Navy’s Naval and Maritime Academy, commenced in the Western waters of Sri Lanka on October 6.

Casting off procedures, seamanship, coastal navigation, Flyex and fire fighting and damage control exercises, and searching suspicious vessels using small boats of the Special Boat Squadron were some of the areas which came for evaluation.

The ‘Helo Ops’ conducted using Indian helicopters on the Helo decks of SLNS Sayura and Samudura was a focal point in the training exercise.

The Vertical Replenishment Procedures (VERTREP) conducted availed the Sri Lankan Naval personnel on board SLNS Sayura and SLNS Samudura to gain valuable exposure and experience.

The Naval training exercise provided SLN Officer under trainees an opportunity to train on board Indian Naval Ships and for SLN Ships to enhance and exchange knowledge with Indian Naval ships.

In reciprocation, Sri Lanka Navy availed the opportunity for Indian Navy Cadets to familiarize themselves with tri-forces military training institutions and to visit places of historical and cultural value in Sri Lanka in order to strengthen the training ties between the two countries, the Sri Lanka Navy said in a press release.