The Indian Navy's submarine, INS Vela, arrived in Colombo yesterday (10) for a three-day visit, where it was ceremoniously welcomed by the Sri Lanka Navy’s guard and band. INS Vela is an indigenous Kalvari-class diesel-electric submarine, commissioned on 25 November 2021.

The submarine’s Commanding Officer, Commander Kapil Kumari, is scheduled to meet with Rear Admiral WDCU Kumarasinghe at the Western Naval Headquarters. The visit includes activities such as a basketball match between the submarine crew and Sri Lanka Navy personnel.

This visit is an Operational Turn Around (OTR), and the submarine will depart on 13 November 2024. The visit further strengthens the cooperation between the two nations in maritime security, reflecting India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy and the vision of ‘SAGAR’ (Security and Growth for All in the Region).