Three Indian training ships left Colombo on 29 October after a port call with the Sri Lanka Navy, carrying out a joint manoeuvre at sea with a Sri Lankan vessel as they departed.
The ships of the Indian Navy's First Training Squadron (1TS), INS Tir, INS Sujata and Indian Coast Guard Ship Sarathi, held a Passage Exercise (PASSEX) with SLNS Nandimithra on leaving port. The Defence Ministry said the exercise improved coordination and interoperability between the two forces.
During the visit
The squadron's senior officer and the ships' commanding officers called on the Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy's Western Naval Area. Sea trainees from the squadron visited the Naval and Maritime Academy in Trincomalee, and Sri Lankan cadets from the academy toured the Indian ships to see their training facilities.
Indian Navy personnel also took part in a beach clean-up, and the ships were opened to visitors, including local residents and members of the Indian diaspora.
The ministry said the visit reaffirmed the two countries' commitment to regional maritime cooperation and capacity building, in line with India's MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) vision. The release does not say where the squadron will sail next.
Photos
Source: official release by the Ministry of Defence, issued through the Press Information Bureau, Government of India (30 OCT 2026 11:27AM by PIB Delhi). Read the full official text: FIRST TRAINING SQUADRON OF THE INDIAN NAVY DEPARTS COLOMBO, SRI LANKA.
How we verified this
VerifiedEvery fact, figure and quotation is taken from the official PIB release (Release ID 2330320) issued by the Ministry of Defence on 30 OCT 2026 11:27AM by PIB Delhi; checked against the source on publication. Story written by BDT from that release; no outside facts added.
Sources
- 1.FIRST TRAINING SQUADRON OF THE INDIAN NAVY DEPARTS COLOMBO, SRI LANKA — Press Information Bureau, Government of India
