India-Sri Lanka Maritime Ties in Focus as SLINEX-26 Enters Sea Phase.
India-Sri Lanka Navy Exercise Slinex 2026:
India-Sri Lanka Naval Exercise SLINEX-2026: India and Sri Lanka are strengthening their maritime cooperation through the 13th edition of their annual bilateral naval exercise, SLINEX-26, being conducted at Visakhapatnam from 17 to 21 September 2026.
The exercise brings together the Indian Navy and Sri Lanka Navy for a series of professional interactions, training activities and coordinated operations at sea. The current edition began with a Harbour Phase before moving into a Sea Phase, where the focus will shift towards operational coordination and interoperability.
The exercise is taking place under the aegis of the Indian Navy’s Eastern Naval Command. According to the Ministry of Defence, SLINEX has developed over the years into an important platform for improving maritime cooperation, mutual understanding and the ability of the two navies to work together.
At a broader level, the exercise reflects the importance both countries attach to security and stability in the Indian Ocean region.
Which ships are taking part?
The Indian Navy is participating with two ships: INS Kavaratti and INS Jyoti.
INS Kavaratti is an indigenously built Anti-Submarine Warfare Corvette. As its designation suggests, the vessel is designed to undertake operations where detecting and responding to underwater threats is an important part of naval activity.
The second Indian vessel, INS Jyoti, is a Fleet Tanker. Such ships provide logistical support to naval forces, including replenishment of fuel and other supplies, allowing warships to remain at sea for longer periods.
Sri Lanka is represented by SLNS Sindurala.
The participation of ships with different operational roles provides an opportunity for personnel from both navies to become familiar with procedures, communication practices and ways of working alongside one another.
What happens during the Harbour Phase?
The Harbour Phase is the part of the exercise conducted while the participating ships are alongside in port. It is not simply a ceremonial stage. Such activities are intended to build familiarity between personnel before ships move into more demanding operations at sea.
For SLINEX-26, the Harbour Phase began with an opening ceremony and a reception aboard INS Kavaratti for the crew of SLNS Sindurala.
The programme includes professional interactions, cross-deck visits and the sharing of best practices. Cross-deck visits allow naval personnel to visit one another’s ships and gain a better understanding of equipment, procedures and day-to-day operations.
The schedule also includes Yoga, sports and cultural activities. These engagements serve a different but complementary purpose: they help personnel from the two navies interact informally and develop familiarity and mutual understanding.
This combination of professional and social activities has become a recurring feature of naval cooperation, where trust between personnel can be as important as familiarity with procedures and equipment.
India-Sri Lanka Navy Exercise Slinex 2026:
What will happen during the Sea Phase?
The Sea Phase will take the exercise from the port environment into actual maritime operations.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the emphasis during this stage will be on enhancing operational synergy and interoperability through coordinated activities at sea.
In simple terms, interoperability means the ability of two forces to communicate, coordinate and operate together effectively despite having separate command structures, equipment and procedures.
For neighbouring countries with maritime interests in the same region, this ability can be important during activities ranging from coordinated security operations to humanitarian assistance and disaster response.
The exercise therefore provides an opportunity for both navies to identify practical areas where their procedures can work together smoothly and where further coordination may be required.
Why does maritime cooperation matter?
India and Sri Lanka are located close to each other in the Indian Ocean, making maritime security an important part of their bilateral relationship.
The sea is central to regional trade, transport, energy supplies and other economic activity. It is also an area where countries face a range of security challenges, including piracy, trafficking and other forms of illicit maritime activity.
India and Sri Lanka have already been working together in areas such as counter-narcotics, anti-piracy and efforts against human trafficking. During his visit to Sri Lanka earlier in September, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also highlighted the importance of secure sea lanes, freedom of navigation and maritime cooperation between the two countries. evelop common procedures and improve coordination when responding to maritime situations.
SLINEX and the longer India-Sri Lanka relationship
SLINEX was conceptualised in 2005 and has since evolved into a regular mechanism for engagement between the two navies.
Its value lies partly in continuity. A single exercise can test particular procedures, but repeated exercises allow naval personnel to build experience with one another over time.
The 2026 edition also comes shortly after another maritime-security engagement in Visakhapatnam. Earlier in September, the city hosted a Colombo Security Conclave table-top exercise involving maritime security scenarios and information-sharing arrangements. That exercise focused on challenges including maritime terrorism, narcotics smuggling, human trafficking and illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.
What is MAHASAGAR?
SLINEX-26 is also being presented by India as part of its broader maritime vision, described as MAHASAGAR — Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions.
The Ministry of Defence says the exercise reinforces India’s commitment to a secure, stable and inclusive maritime environment and further strengthens the maritime partnership with Sri Lanka.effectively the two navies can coordinate their activities at sea. The exercise is scheduled to conclude on 21 September.
The larger significance of SLINEX, however, lies in its regularity. By bringing Indian and Sri Lankan naval personnel together year after year, the exercise provides a continuing framework for professional engagement, operational learning and maritime cooperation between two neighbouring countries in the Indian Ocean.
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