India underlines Sri Lanka’s status as ‘priority one’ partner with its Navy Chief’s visit

Visiting Chief of the Naval Staff, Indian Navy Admiral R. Hari Kumar, will be the chief guest at the passing out parade of the Naval and Maritime Academy, Trincomalee, tomorrow (15).

Admiral Kumar arrived in Colombo on Monday (12) on a four-day visit on the invitation of Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne.

The Indian High Commission stated: “During the visit, CNS is scheduled to call on President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and Minister of State for Defence Premitha Bandara Tennakoon. Other engagements include meetings with Defence Secretary, Chief of Defence Staff and Service Commanders.

Indigenous Indian Naval Ship Sahyadri, a multi-role missile frigate of the Indian Navy, also made a port call at Colombo, yesterday (13) to complement the visit of the Indian Navy chief. The ship would engage in training engagements, with the Sri Lanka Navy, and participate in Maritime Partnership Exercises with the Sri Lanka Navy.

It may be recalled that the Indian Navy shared close interactions with the Sri Lanka Navy during annual exercise SLINEX 21, in March 2022. Further, the Indian Navy provided a maritime reconnaissance aircraft to the Sri Lanka Air Force, in August 2022, to augment its maritime capabilities. The Indian Navy is also providing customised and specialised training to the Sri Lanka Navy, including in marine technology.

The visit of CNS symbolises strong relations and close cooperation between the two countries, with Sri Lanka being accorded the status of ‘Priority One’ partner by India. It would strengthen the existing bilateral maritime relations between the two countries, and areas of common security concern and enhancing capacity and capability building initiatives towards ensuring peace in the region, would be discussed during the visit. The visit is also indicative of the growing camaraderie and friendship between the two nations in line with India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy.”