Indian submarine departs from Colombo

by admin
Nov 13, 2024

The Indian Navy submarine INS Vela completed a three-day visit to Sri Lanka this week, in a move that seems aimed at building closer ties between the two militaries.

INS Vela, a Kalvari-class diesel-electric submarine, was commissioned just two years ago and is in Sri Lanka for what is officially described as an Operational Turn Around (OTR) visit. According to India’s High Commission in Colombo, the purpose of the visit is to replenish provisions, with the crew given opportunities to visit Colombo's local attractions.

Commander Kapil Kumaris of INS Vela and Rear Admiral WDCU Kumarasinghe, Commander of the Western Naval Area met, and a basketball match between the submarine’s crew and Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) personnel at the Sri Lankan Naval Base in Welisara was organised.

This submarine visit comes as part of a series of increasing military exchanges between India and Sri Lanka. India’s partnership with Sri Lanka’s military has faced scrutiny, especially as the Sri Lankan armed forces are implicated in atrocities against Tamil civilians.

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