‘Mumbai’ – the Indian naval ship which is on a three-day visit to Sri Lanka – has reached Colombo, reports said.
They said Indian Navy’s frontline warship would engage in a Passage Exercise with a Sri Lanka Navy vessel.
According to the reports, it was welcomed by the Sri Lanka Navy in compliance with naval traditions.
The Indian warship – a 163-metre-long Destroyer – has a crew of 410 members manning it.
It’s the first visit of the INS Mumbai to any port of the island country and the eighth port call by Indian ships this year, the Indian High Commission said in an official release.
While the Indian ship is in Sri Lanka, its crew members would visit some of the tourist attractions of the country, Sri Lankan Navy was quoted as saying by the media reports.
“A briefing on the operational functions of the ship will be conducted aboard INS Mumbai for Sri Lanka Navy personnel,” it added.
The reports say the INS Mumbai will bring essential spares for the Lankan airforce -operated Dornier maritime patrol aircraft the pilots and flight navigators of which are being trained by the Indian Navy.
Besides, the Indian Navy also supports the aircraft’s maintenance with a technical team and spares.
The ship is also scheduled to undertake joint activities with the Sri Lanka Navy, such as sports fixtures, Yoga and beach cleaning, the release said.
Also, the Indian ship will also engage in a Passage Exercise with a Lankan naval ship off the coast of Colombo upon its departure on August 29.
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INS Mumbai – the third of the Delhi class destroyers – will bring essential spares for the Sri Lanka Airforce (SLAF)-operated Dornier maritime patrol aircraft – the pilots and flight navigators of which are being trained by the Indian Navy.
The indigenously built INS Mumbai was commissioned into the Indian Navy on January 22, 2001.
Earlier this year, INS Kabra, Karanj, Kamorta and Shalki visited Lanka, in addition to Indian Coast Guard ships Samarth, Abhinav and Sachet, the press release said.
