By Mewati Sitaram
Indian Naval Ship ‘Khanjar’, an indigenously built Missile Corvette of Khukri-class, is scheduled to visit Trincomalee from 29-31 July 2023. This ship was built at Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers and was commissioned on 22 October 1991, its Identification Pennant number is P47.
The Commanding Officer of the Indian Naval Ship, Commander NVS Phani Kumar will be calling on Commander Eastern Naval Area. Further, various professional interactions will be conducted on VBSS, Gunnery and Missile Operations. A reception is planned to be hosted onboard for senior officials from Military and Civil administration. Post departure a Maritime Partnership Exercise with Sri Lanka Navy Ship off Trincomalee is also planned on 31 July 2023.
In order to further people-to-people connect and familiarize the people with the Indian Navy and its capabilities, the ship will be open for a visit by school children. In addition, the public will have the opportunity to visit the ship on 30 July 2023 at Trincomalee Port. The ship will also carry out a Yoga Session, Beach Cleaning and Special School in Trincomalee.
The visit of the Indian Naval Ship Khanjar, a Khukri-Class Corvette, is also significant in view of the potential for cooperation between India and Sri Lanka for augmenting capabilities of the Sri Lanka Navy for efficiently addressing shared challenges for maritime security in the region.
It may be recalled that Indian Naval Submarine Vagir had earlier visited Colombo from 19-22 Jun 2023 for celebrating the International Day of Yoga (IDY-2023). Visits by Indian Navy vessels to Sri Lanka further strengthen the camaraderie and interoperability between the Navies of the two neighbours, in keeping with India’s SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) doctrine and ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy.
Editor in Chief : Mewati SItaram
