INS Khanjar Completes Visit to Sri Lanka to Showcase Maritime Cooperation in the Neighbourhood
1st Aug, Chennai: India has been committed to strengthening its maritime security cooperation under the SAGAR doctrine and Neighbourhood First policy. In line with this, different Indian Naval ships visit ports of its maritime partners and naval officers take part in varied engagements. On 29th July, INS Khanjar reached Trincomalee in Sri Lanka for a three-day visit.
The Sri Lankan Navy welcomed the Indian ship and tweeted, “Indian Naval Ship (INS) Khanjar arrived at the Port of Trincomalee on a formal visit 29 July. The visiting ship was welcomed by the @srilanka_navy in precision with naval tradition.”
This visit saw something unique to build people-to-people ties, wherein the INS Khanjar was open to school children and the public to visit, in order to understand what are the different aspects within an Indian Naval Ship. Additionally, the Indian Navy along with the Sri Lankan Navy carried out several training programmes, to showcase the cooperation and goodwill between the two navies. The crew on board INS Khanjar performed yoga sessions and carried out a beach cleaning campaign as well.
Thus, along with economic cooperation, India and Sri Lanka continue to boost its partnership in maritime security. Such a cooperation is also critical to India, in order to deter China’s string of pearls campaign in the subcontinent.
