The Indian Naval Ship ‘Khanjar’, an indigenously built Missile Corvette of the Khukri-class, is scheduled to visit Trincomalee from July 29–31, 2023.
The Commanding Officer of the Indian Naval Ship, Commander NVS Phani Kumar, will be calling on Commander Eastern Naval Area. Further, various professional interactions will be conducted on VBSS, gunnery, and Missile Operations. A reception is planned to be hosted onboard for senior officials from the military and Civil administrations. Post-departure, a Maritime Partnership Exercise with the Sri Lanka Navy Ship off Trincomalee is also planned for July 31, 2023.
In order to further people-to-people connections and familiarise the people with the Indian Navy and its capabilities, the ship will be open for a visit by schoolchildren. In addition, the public will have the opportunity to visit the ship on July 30, 2023, at Trincomalee Port. The ship will also carry out a Yoga Session, Beach cleaning, and a special school in Trincomalee.
The visit of the Indian Naval Ship Khanjar, a Khukri-Class Corvette, is also significant in view of the potential for cooperation between India and Sri Lanka to augment the capabilities of the Sri Lanka Navy and efficiently address shared challenges for maritime security in the region.
It may be recalled that Indian Naval Submarine Vagir had earlier visited Colombo from June 19–22, 2023, to celebrate the International Day of Yoga (IDY-2023). Visits by Indian Navy vessels to Sri Lanka further strengthen the camaraderie and interoperability between the Navies of the two neighbours, in keeping with India’s SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) doctrine and ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy.
