Navy ships Sayura and Sagara return home upon completion of successful naval exercise

The Sri Lanka Navy’s offshore patrol vessels SLNS Sayura and Sagara, which left Trincomalee earlier this month for India to participate in a joint maritime naval exercise with the Indian Navy, have returned after the successful completion of the exercise.

The SLNS Sayura and Sagara returned to Sri Lanka on 17 September after successfully completing the Sri Lanka India Naval Exercise - SLINEX 2017, the Navy Media Unit revealed. The SLN ships left for India on 4 September to take part in the biennial joint naval exercise conducted between the two neighbouring countries.

The returning ship, SLNS Sayura, was received in accordance with naval traditions at the Naval Dockyard in Trincomalee while SLNS Sagara, which is currently undertaking a search operation en route, is due to arrive at the Trincomalee harbour.

The biennial Joint Indo-Lanka Maritime Fleet Exercise - SLINEX 2017 was conducted from 7-14 September. A complement of 368 SLN personnel comprising 43 naval officers and 60 midshipmen took part in the biennial joint naval exercise.

SLINEX 2017 focused on fleet work, seamanship, communication and replenishment at sea, Visit Board Search and Seize (VBSS) operations as well as helicopter operations.