Lankan naval trainees to train on board Indian warship

In a gesture aimed at improving bilateral military ties with Sri Lanka, the Navy will throw open its warship, which is on a visit to Trincomalee harbour, to about 100 trainee officers from the Lankan Navy.

The trainee officers would go around INS Magar, a Landing Ship Tank (medium) used for amphibious operations and also as a replenishment ship, when they would be given exposure to various on-board activities including seamanship, bridgemanship, damage control and fire fighting exercises.

The ship will sail out of the Trincomalee harbour for two days from April 12 and would return to the harbour on April 14, the Navy said in a press release in New Delhi today.

"These mutual cooperation exercises are an ongoing process and training experience have been imparted to young Sri Lankan officers on board the First Training Squadron (1TS) ships INS Shardul and Coast Guard ship CGS Varuna in October 2009 and earlier on INS Krishna in October 2007," the release said.

"The two Navies share a very cordial relationship and have been undertaking such programmes for mutual professional benefit as and when the opportunity arises," it said.