[1]A joint exercise of Sri Lankan and Indian naval forces started on Monday in the eastern seas off Trincomalee to enhance interoperability of the two navies.
"Sri Lanka Navy and Indian Navy started a joint naval exercise off Trincomalee today. It will go on until 24th September," Sri Lankan Naval spokesman Commander Kosala Warnakulasuriya said.
"The exercise, code-named 'SLINEX II', is aimed at enhancing interoperability of the two navies. It will pave way for both navies to rehearse the concept of joint naval operations and enhance own skills in order to gain from each other's experience," he said.
Warnakulasuriya said that two offshore patrol vessels, one fast missile vessel, two fast gun boats and six fast attack crafts from Sri Lanka Navy and one destroyer, one frigate, one missile corvette, one landing ship tank and two fast attack craft along with one maritime patrol aircraft from India are participating in the exercise.
These are routine exercises of the two navies who maintained a close cooperation during Sri Lanka's battle against the LTTE in the north and north eastern waters, the Sri Lankan officials said.
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