Indian Naval Ship (INS) Sharda concluded a successful port call to Colombo, Sri Lanka, and departed on June 13, further reinforcing maritime cooperation and friendship between the two neighbouring nations.
The visit featured a range of professional, training and sporting engagements between the Indian Navy and the Sri Lankan Navy. As part of capacity-building efforts, Sri Lankan Navy personnel received training in small arms handling, basic firefighting, first aid and rescue procedures. The engagements were aimed at enhancing operational capabilities and promoting greater interoperability between the two maritime forces.
During the visit, Rear Admiral Jagath Kumara, Commander of the Western Naval Area of the Sri Lanka Navy, visited INS Sharda and interacted with the ship’s crew, reaffirming the strong maritime partnership shared by India and Sri Lanka. Friendly sports fixtures, professional exchanges and cross-deck visits also helped strengthen ties and foster mutual understanding between the two navies.
The Commanding Officer of INS Sharda paid a courtesy call on Santosh Jha, High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, during the port visit.
The deployment underscored the enduring maritime partnership between India and Sri Lanka and reaffirmed their shared commitment to regional maritime cooperation and security in line with the vision of MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions).
