The visiting Indian navy chief met with Sri Lanka’s political leadership to explore expanding defence cooperation. The Indian embassy in Sri Lanka sent a tweet quoting “CNS Indian Navy calls on (Sri Lanka) President Ranil Wickremesinghe. The discussions centred on expanding and enhancing mutual defence cooperation. The contribution of lka in leading the Colombo Security Conclave toward securing regional peace and security was recognised.”
In another tweet, the Indian delegation stated, “Admiral R Hari Kumar, Chief of Naval Staff of India, met with Prime Minister DCR Gunawardena. The necessity of robust defence connections between the two nations was discussed, as well as ways to improve existing links between the two countries’ Armed Forces.”
Admiral Hari Kumar, Commander of the Indian Navy, arrived in Colombo on December 12 on a four-day official visit at the request of Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne, Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy.
During the Navy Chief’s visit, the Indigenous Indian Naval Ship Sahyadri, a multi-role missile frigate of the Indian Navy, also called at Colombo.
The ship participated in Maritime Partnership Exercises with the Sri Lanka Navy as well as training with them. During the annual exercise SLINEX 21 in March 2022, the Indian Navy had close engagements with the Sri Lanka Navy.
Moreover, in August 2022, the Indian Navy donated a marine surveillance aircraft to the Sri Lanka Air Force to supplement its maritime capabilities.
