Sri Lanka Navy Ships Sayura, Samudura and three Fast Attack Craft conducted a naval exercise with the Indian Naval Ship Vikramaditya and Mysore in the seas off Colombo on Sunday, January 24.
The five hour exercise provided both navies a practical-based training in real conditions and also opportunity to practice maneuvering, station keeping and maintaining of formations. Moreover, co-operation and co-ordination between two regional navies were also enhanced through the exercise.
The Indian Navy Aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya made its maiden port call to Sri Lanka on January 21. During its stay at the port, the ship was even visited by the Sri Lankan president Maitripala Sirisena on January 23. The president was received onboard by Rear Admiral Ranveet Singh, Commanding Officer of the ship.
It was not only the first visit of the president of Sri Lanka to a foreign warship after assuming office in January 2015, but also the first head of state visit to the Indian Navy’s biggest warship and aircraft carrier, INS Vikramaditya. Another first was the fact that the carrier’s visit to Colombo was the first ever foreign port being visited by the ship after being inducted into the Indian Navy.
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