SLINEX-26: Indian, Sri Lankan Navies wrap harbour phase in Visakhapatnam
Synopsis
India and Sri Lanka wrapped the harbour phase of SLINEX-26 in Visakhapatnam on 21 September — the 13th edition of a bilateral naval drill that has grown into a cornerstone of Indian Ocean security cooperation. With INS Kavaratti and INS Jyoti on the Indian side and SLNS Sindurala representing Sri Lanka, the exercise reflects a deepening 'Neighbourhood First' push at a moment when India is actively expanding its maritime footprint across the IOR.
Key Takeaways
The harbour phase of SLINEX-26 concluded in Visakhapatnam on 21 September 2026 , followed by a sea phase.
This is the 13th edition of SLINEX, a bilateral naval exercise first conceptualised in 2005 .
Activities included UNREP training , cross-deck visits, professional exchanges, Yoga, and sporting interactions.
Indian assets: INS Kavaratti (ASW Corvette) and INS Jyoti (Fleet Tanker); Sri Lankan asset: SLNS Sindurala .
The exercise is aligned with India's MAHASAGAR vision and Neighbourhood First policy.
It follows INS Udaygiri 's operational visit to Colombo from 8–11 September 2026 , coinciding with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's Sri Lanka visit.
The Indian Navy and Sri Lanka Navy concluded the harbour phase of bilateral maritime exercise SLINEX-26 (Sri Lanka India Naval Exercise) in Visakhapatnam on Monday, 21 September 2026, marking the 13th edition of an annual exercise that has steadily deepened naval interoperability between the two neighbours since its inception in 2005.
Key Activities During the Harbour Phase
The harbour phase, which began on 17 September 2026, featured professional exchanges, cross-deck visits, Underway Replenishment (UNREP) training, Yoga sessions, and sporting interactions between personnel of both navies. In a post on X, the Indian Navy confirmed the activities, noting that the engagements 'enhanced interoperability, camaraderie and exchange of best practices.'
Captain PHSS Appuhamy, Commanding Officer of SLNS Sindurala, called on Rear Admiral Vishal Bishnoi, Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet (FOCEF), EasternSword, furthering professional dialogue and mutual understanding between the two sides.
Ships and Assets Involved
Sri Lankan Naval Ship Sindurala arrived at Visakhapatnam on 17 September and was formally welcomed by the Indian Navy in keeping with naval traditions. On the Indian side, INS Kavaratti — an indigenously built Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Corvette — and INS Jyoti, the Fleet Tanker, are participating in the exercise. The harbour phase has since been followed by a sea phase.
Strategic Significance and MAHASAGAR Vision
According to a statement by the Ministry of Defence, SLINEX-26 is aligned with India's vision of MAHASAGAR, reinforcing India's commitment to a secure, stable, and inclusive maritime environment in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). The exercise reaffirms the enduring maritime partnership and shared commitment of both nations to regional security.
Notably, the exercise comes weeks after INS Udaygiri, an indigenously constructed multi-role stealth frigate, made a three-day operational visit to Colombo, Sri Lanka, from 8 to 11 September 2026. That visit coincided with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's landmark visit to Sri Lanka. The Indian Navy's spokesperson posted on X that the Colombo visit aimed to 'strengthen maritime cooperation through Mobile Training Teams, experience sharing and provision of machinery/equipment spares to the Sri Lanka Armed Forces, in line with India's Neighbourhood First policy.'
SLINEX: Two Decades of Naval Cooperation
Conceptualised in 2005, SLINEX has evolved from a modest bilateral drill into a comprehensive platform for maritime cooperation, interoperability, and mutual understanding. The 13th edition signals the continued momentum in India-Sri Lanka defence ties at a time when both nations are deepening their strategic alignment across the Indian Ocean.
With the sea phase now under way, both navies are expected to conduct coordinated tactical manoeuvres, communication drills, and maritime domain awareness exercises before the exercise formally concludes.
Point of View
Culminating in Rajnath Singh's Colombo visit and the INS Udaygiri port call earlier this month. The exercise's alignment with the MAHASAGAR framework signals that New Delhi is moving beyond 'Neighbourhood First' as a slogan and toward institutionalised maritime architecture. The quiet expansion of UNREP training is particularly telling: it builds the operational muscle memory that matters most in a crisis. What the exercise does not resolve is the broader question of Sri Lanka's balancing act between India and China in the IOR — a dynamic that makes every Indian Navy port call in Colombo as much a geopolitical statement as a professional exchange.
NationPress
21 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What activities were held during the harbour phase of SLINEX-26?
The harbour phase featured Underway Replenishment (UNREP) training, cross-deck visits, professional exchanges, Yoga sessions, and sporting interactions between Indian and Sri Lankan naval personnel. Senior officers also held bilateral meetings to further professional dialogue.
Which ships are participating in SLINEX-26?
INS Kavaratti, an indigenous Anti-Submarine Warfare Corvette, and INS Jyoti, the Fleet Tanker, represent India. Sri Lanka is participating with SLNS Sindurala, which arrived at Visakhapatnam on 17 September 2026.
What is India's MAHASAGAR vision referenced in SLINEX-26?
MAHASAGAR is India's strategic framework for maritime cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region, emphasising a secure, stable, and inclusive maritime environment. SLINEX-26 is formally aligned with this vision, reflecting India's broader 'Neighbourhood First' policy toward littoral nations in the IOR.
How does SLINEX-26 connect to the recent INS Udaygiri visit to Sri Lanka?
INS Udaygiri, an indigenously built stealth frigate, visited Colombo from 8 to 11 September 2026, coinciding with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's landmark visit to Sri Lanka. Together with SLINEX-26, the back-to-back engagements reflect a concerted push by India to deepen maritime ties with Sri Lanka in the second half of 2026.
