Navy ships’ goodwill visit to Colombo

The Indian Navy’s First Training Squadron (1TS), consisting of Indian Naval Ships Tir and Sujata and Indian Coast Guard Ship Sarathi, will make a goodwill visit to Colombo from Oct. 26 to 28.

This visit is part of a long-range training deployment that also includes stops at Port Victoria, Seychelles, and Male, Maldives, before returning to Kochi.

The Squadron provides initial sea training to Officer Under Trainees from the Indian Navy, Coast Guard, and partner foreign nations.

Captain Tijo K Joseph, Senior Officer, First Training Squadron, commands the squadron as Commanding Officer of INS Tir.

INS Tarangini, also part of 1TS, visited Sri Lanka in March 2026 to provide ocean sailing training to Sri Lanka Navy officer trainees from the Naval and Maritime Academy (NMA), Trincomalee.

Rear Admiral Rohan Joseph, Director General Training of the Sri Lanka Navy, will visit the ships upon their arrival at Colombo Port.

He will meet with the Commanding Officers, Training Officers, and trainees onboard.

Five Sri Lanka Navy trainees are participating in this long-range training deployment.

The Senior Officer 1TS and Commanding Officers will meet with the High Commissioner of India, Shri Santosh Jha, and Rear Admiral Harsha De Silva, Commander, Western Naval Area, Sri Lanka Navy.

Officer cadets will participate in professional, training, and sports activities with the Sri Lanka Navy.

Cross-visits are planned for Indian cadets to NMA, Trincomalee, and for Sri Lanka Navy cadets to the training ships.
The Indian Navy and Sri Lanka Navy will hold a joint band performance at Galle Face Green on Oct. 27.

Visits by Indian Navy and Coast Guard vessels to Sri Lanka aim to further strengthen the close ties between the two navies.

These visits align with India’s ‘Neighborhood First’ policy and the vision of ‘Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions (MAHASAGAR).’