The Ministry of Defence has announced the 13th edition of SLINEX-26, the annual India-Sri Lanka bilateral maritime exercise. The exercise is taking place at Visakhapatnam from 17 to 21 September 2026. It involves naval vessels from both countries working together to improve their coordination and understanding on maritime matters.
Exercise Details
The Indian Navy is participating with INS Kavaratti, an indigenous Anti-Submarine Warfare Corvette, and INS Jyoti, a Fleet Tanker. The Sri Lanka Navy is represented by SLNS Sindurala.
The exercise unfolds in two phases. The Harbour Phase began with an opening ceremony and reception held on board INS Kavaratti for the visiting Sri Lankan naval crew. This phase includes professional meetings between officers, visits to each other’s ships, exchange of operational knowledge and procedures, as well as Yoga, sports and cultural programmes.
The Sea Phase will follow and will concentrate on building operational coordination through joint activities conducted at sea.
The exercise is being managed by the Eastern Naval Command of the Indian Navy.
Why This Matters
SLINEX began in 2005 and has grown into a significant platform for the Indian and Sri Lankan Navies to work together, understand each other’s capabilities and strengthen their partnership. The exercise reflects India’s MAHASAGAR vision, which focuses on creating a secure, stable and inclusive maritime environment in the region. Through regular joint exercises like this, both navies build the trust and operational familiarity needed to address common challenges in the Indian Ocean.