COLOMBO – Indian submarine INS Vela, arrived in Colombo on Sunday (10) on a three-day visit classified as an Operational Turn Around (OTR), where the submarine will replenish provisions and the 53-member crew will have the opportunity to visit places of interest in and around Colombo.
The indigenous Kalvari-class diesel-electric submarine, commissioned into the Indian Navy on 25 November 2021, was accorded a ceremonial welcome by the Officer of the guard and band of the Sri Lanka Navy.
A statement from the Indian High Commission in Colombo said the Commanding Officer of INS Vela, Commander Kapil Kumar was scheduled to call on the Commander of the Western Naval Area, Rear Admiral W. D. C. U. Kumarasinghe at Western Naval Headquarters.
It also added that an organized visit for personnel from the Sri Lanka Navy and High Commission of India will be conducted and that a basketball match has also been planned between the Submarine crew and SLN personnel at Sri Lanka Naval Base, Welisara.
The submarine is scheduled to depart Sri Lanka on Wednesday (13).
While Indian Navy / Coast Guard ships and submarines have been making regular Port calls in Sri Lanka, the High Commission said INS Vela’s visit further strengthens the bilateral cooperation and camaraderie between the two maritime nations in keeping with India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy and the Prime Minister’s vision of ‘SAGAR’ which stands for “Security and Growth for all in the Region”.
-ENCL
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