Indian Navy’s frontline warship to arrive in Sri Lanka

Colombo, August 26 (Daily Mirror) - Indian Navy’s frontline Warship INS Mumbai, will arrive in Colombo today on a three-day visit and it will be received ceremonially by the Sri Lanka Navy, a statement from the Indian High Commission said.

​INS Mumbai is the third of the Delhi class destroyers, indigenously built and commissioned into the Indian Navy on 22 January 2001. The Ship was built at Mazagon Dock Limited in her namesake city Mumbai. The ship completed its mid-life upgrade and joined Eastern Naval Command in Visakhapatnam on 08 December 2023. This is INS Mumbai’s first visit to any port in Sri Lanka and will be the eighth port call by Indian Ships this year. INS Kabra, Karanj, Kamorta and Shalki visited this year in addition to Indian Coast Guard ships Samarth, Abhinav and Sachet, the High Commission said. 

​INS Mumbai will bring essential spares for the Dornier maritime patrol aircraft operated by Sri Lanka Airforce. The Dornier aircraft has provided a unique and critical surveillance capability over the Sea Area of Responsibility (AOR) of Sri Lanka since its induction two years ago. This has also greatly enhanced the Search and Rescue capability in Sri Lanka’s vast EEZ.  In addition to training the SLAF Pilots and flight Navigators, the Indian Navy is supporting the maintenance of this aircraft with a Technical team and spares. Indian Ship visited earlier this year, and also brought in material assistance. INS Kabra and later ICGS Sachet had brought spare parts for the Sri Lanka Coast Guard ship Suraksha.

​During the stay in Colombo, INS Mumbai will conduct a familiarization tour onboard for Sri Lanka Navy personnel aimed at sharing best practices between both the Navies. It can be recalled that a visit for Long specialization course student officers and Cadets of Naval and Maritime Academy, Trincomalee was organized onboard the submarine Shalki, during a port call earlier this month, adding value to their training. Indian Navy also provides various specialist courses including in the core area of Hydrography in India for capacity building of the Sri Lanka Navy.

​INS Mumbai will depart the island on August 29, 2024.