The Indian Navy Ship Airavat, a Shardul-class Landing Ship Tank (LST) arrived in Colombo on 18 October 2023. The Officer of the vessel, Commander Rindu Babu, called on the commander of the Western Naval Area, Rear Admiral TSK Perera during the visit.

In line with Government of India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ Policy, the Assistant Chief of Naval Staff—Foreign Cooperation, Indian Navy Rear Admiral Nirbhay Bapna handed over valuable machinery test and trial equipment, including machinery items, for Sri Lanka Navy on grant by GoI to Director General of Engineering, Sri Lanka Navy Rear Admiral (E) KWARI Ranasinghe, in a ceremony onboard the ship on 18 October 2023. The timely availability of spares would ensure optimal operational availability of the SLN platforms.

The efforts of the Indian Navy are in keeping with its core ideology of ‘Bridges of Friendship’, towards strengthening it’s relations with friendly neighbors.