India-Sri Lanka to hold SLINEX military exercise

On October 19, 2020, India and Sri Lanka are to begin a three-day military exercise “SLINEX”. The eighth edition of the exercise is to be held off coast of Trincomalee. It is to be conducted in non-contact at-sea only format. This strategy has been adopted due to COVID-19 pandemic.

Highlights

The drill will include series of anti-air weapons firing, cross deck flying operations to fine tune high degree of inter-operability. Indian Navy is to deploy INS Kiltan and INS Kamorta, Chetak helicopters and Dornier maritime patrol aircrafts in the exercise.  The Sri Lankan Navy is to be represented by SLN Ships Sayura and Gajabahu. Gajabahu is a training ship and Sayura is an offshore patrol vessel.

In 2019, the SLINEX exercise was conducted in Vishakhapatnam. The exercise is being conducted in consonance with India’s SAGAR (Security and Growth for all in the Region) and Neighbourhood first policy of India.

Trincomalee

The port of Trincomalee was offered to India in 2017. Sri Lanka wants to maintain neutral stand between India and china. Thus, Sri Lanka offered the port to India. While offering the port, Sri Lanka claimed that the experience of the country with Chinese on the Hambantota port was not beneficial. Also, Sri Lanka is facing is heavy debt burden due to the port.

SLINEX

The exercise began in 2005.

Mitra Shakti

It is a joint military training exercise held between India and Sri Lanka. In 2019, the seventh edition of the exercise was held to enhance interoperability and operational efficiency of India and Sri Lanka.

Other Military Exercises

India holds Vajra Prahar and Yudh Abhyas exercise with the US. It holds Dharma Guardian with Japan. With China, India holds Hand in Hand Exercise.

Hand-in-Hand Exercise

The exercise is held between the armies of India and China. The main objective of the exercise is to enhance interoperability between the two countries and counter terrorism. The last Hand-in-Hand exercise was held in December 2019 in Umroi, Meghalaya.

Month: Current Affairs - October, 2020