The annual Sri Lanka India Naval Exercise, SLINEX-25, is being held from 14 to 18 August 2025 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. This is the 12th edition of the Sri Lanka-India Naval Exercise.
Participation of Naval Ships:
- Indian Naval Ships INS Rana (a Guided Missile Destroyer) and INS Jyoti (Fleet Tanker) are participating in SLINEX-2025.
- Sri Lanka Navy is participating with SLNS Gajabahu and Vijayabahu (both Advance Offshore Patrol Vessels). In addition, Sri Lanka Air Force BEL 412 helicopters also participating in the exercise.
- The exercise also involves Special Forces from both navies participating in the IN-SLN SF exercise.
Phases of SLINEX-25:
» The exercise is being conducted in two phases – Harbour phase and Sea phase.
Harbour Phase:
» The harbour phase was conducted in Colombo from 14 to 16 August 2025.
- During the harbour phase, professional interactions, Subject Matter Expert Exchange(SMEE), sharing of best practices, cultural & social exchanges along with yoga sessions and sporting events were conducted, further strengthening the bonds of friendship and camaraderie between both the navies.
Sea Phase:
» The Sea phase is being conducted from 17 to 18 August 2025.
- The naval drills planned during the sea phase include gunnery firing serials, communication protocols, navigation, seamanship evolutions, Visit Board Search and Seizure (VBSS) and fueling at sea.
- The Sea Phase will further enhance the high degree of inter-operability already established between the two friendly navies.
Background:
- Conceptualised in 2005, SLINEX is a bilateral naval exercise that has strengthened maritime cooperation between the two nations over two decades.
- SLINEX aims at enhancing interoperability, maritime cooperation and exchanging best practices while jointly undertaking multi-faceted maritime operations.
- The previous edition of SLINEX was conducted at Visakhapatnam, India from 17 to 20 December 2024.
Significance:
» The SLINEX maritime exercise exemplifies the deep engagement between India and Sri Lanka, which has strengthened cooperation in the maritime domain in consonance with India’s policy of Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions MAHASAGAR.