India-Sri Lanka naval joint exercise SLINEX-25 held in Sri Lanka

The 12th edition of the Sri Lanka-India Naval Exercise (SLINEX-25) was organized in Sri Lanka from 14 to 18 August 2025. It included a harbour and a sea phase.

• Indian naval ships INS Rana (a guided missile destroyer) and INS Jyoti (fleet tanker) participated in the 12th edition of the Sri Lanka-India Naval Exercise (SLINEX-25) held from 14 to 18 August 2025.
• SLINEX, conceptualized in 2005, has evolved into a major bilateral maritime exercise aimed at promoting interoperability, maritime cooperation and exchange of best practices.

Previous edition

• SLINEX-25 was held after its previous edition which took place in Visakhapatnam from 17 to 20 December 2024.

Phase structure, 2025

• Harbour phase in Colombo (14–16 August 2025)
• Sea phase in adjacent waters (17–18 August 2025)

Participants

• Indian Navy: INS Rana (guided missile destroyer), INS Jyoti (fleet tanker)
• Sri Lanka Navy: SLNS Gajabahu and SLNS Vijayabahu (advanced offshore patrol vessels)
• Special forces of both navies also participated in both phases.
• Additional assets: Sri Lanka Air Force BEL412 helicopters reportedly participated.

Harbour phase activities

The harbour phase included professional interactions, subject matter expert exchanges (SMEE) and sharing of best practices along with cultural and social engagements such as yoga, sports and friendly events – all designed to deepen mutual and institutional ties.

Sea phase activities

• Artillery firing sequences
• Communication exercises
• Navigation and seamanship training
• Visit-Board-Search-Seizure (VBSS) operations
• Replenishment and refueling at sea
• These drills highlight critical tactical synergy for joint maritime operations.

Significance and strategic context

• SLINEX enhances bilateral naval coordination, aligning with India’s broader ocean policy – Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) – underscoring regional maritime security and collective resilience.
• The exercise strengthens trust, operational synergy and shared maritime capabilities in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and enhances both countries’ ability to address common security challenges through cooperation.

Sri Lanka Mitra Vibhushan:

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred Sri Lanka’s highest civilian honor “Sri Lanka Mitra Vibhushan.”
• The award includes a citation and a silver medal adorned with Navaratnas (nine Sri Lankan gems). The medal features a Puna Kalash (symbol of prosperity), the Sun and Moon (eternity) and a Dharma Chakra, reflecting shared Buddhist heritage.

Other exercises

• The 10th edition of the India-Sri Lanka joint military exercise Mitra Shakti was held in Sri Lanka in August 2024. Notably, it was organized from 12 to 25 August at the Army Training School, Maduru Oya.