Multifaceted nature of defence cooperation between India and Sri Lanka encompasses myriad activities in numerous domains including training, joint exercises, supply of military equipment etc. They are also marked by institutional dialogues at different levels and periodic bilateral goodwill visits by Navy and Coast Guard ships.
Participation of the largest ever Indian Air Force (IAF) contingent for the 70th Anniversary of the Sri Lanka Air Force clubbed with the visit of Indian Air Chief in February 2021 was a testimony to friendship and jointmanship, wherein twenty three aircraft participated in the event. It was also the rst time that The Surya Kiran, Sarang, Dornier and Tejas ghter aircraft collectively performed outside India.
The two Navies conducted the bilateral Naval exercise SLINEX o‑ Trincomalee coast in September 2020. In the immediate past, Indian Navy Missile Destroyer Ranvijay visited Colombo in April 21 and Survey ship Sarvekshak in June 21. Further, ICG O‑shore Patrol Vessels Vaibhav and Vajra and Pollution Control Vessel Samudra Prahari visited Colombo in May-June 21.
Reinforcing India’s image as the first responder’ in the region, Indian Navy and Coast Guards immediately responded to the call for assistance by Government of Sri Lanka during re on-board MT New Diamond and MV X-Press Pearl in Operation Sagar Aaraksha 1 and 2 in September 2020 and June 2021 respectively. These Operations underscored the close understanding and enduring bonds in the field.
As a testimony to India’s long-term commitment, spares worth SLR 430 million were provided by IAF, Navy and Coast Guard to the Sri Lankan Forces on a goodwill basis during the past one year alone. Life extension checks of 54 shoulder launched surface to air IGLA Missiles were also carried out in January 2021.
2020-2021 marked a new milestone in bilateral defence and security cooperation through the establishment of the Colombo Security Conclave during the 4th NSA-level trilateral meeting in November 2020. The inaugural bi-annual Deputy NSA-level dialogue under this rubric was held online on 4 August 2021.
India is the largest provider of foreign training assistance to Sri Lankan Armed Forces. Despite Covid-19 restrictions, training courses for Sri Lankan Forces in premier institutes in India continued strongly. Camaraderie and close collaboration between the Forces of the two countries in the defence sphere also cuts into other areas as well. The 7th International Day of Yoga was organized in collaboration with Sri Lanka Armed Forces on 21 June 2021.
