Training for Lankan cadets by Indian Navy
In a move to strengthen Naval ties between Sri Lanka and India and to enhance the security of the Indian ocean, four Indian Naval ships on the invitation of the Sri Lankan Navy conducted a naval training for cadets of both navies yesterday in the seas close to the Colombo Port.
Navy spokesman Captain Athula Senerath said three Indian Naval Training Ships with officer trainees on board started sailing from the Port of Trincomalee while sailing between Trincomalee and Colombo, the SLN officer trainees carried out practical training on a wide range of Naval topics including seamanship, communication, coastal navigation, life saving, replenishment at sea, fire fighting and damage control, anchoring and a host of others.
Navy Commander Thisara Samarasinghe who also underwent similar training twenty years ago came to witness the training of naval cadets by the Indian Navy.
Sri Lanka Navy officer trainees are expected to undergo practical training in handling sail ships on board INS Tarangani a unique sail training ship of the Indian Navy. During the training the cadets will be exposed to a wealth of practical knowledge related to fundamentals of seamanship and navigation during their training session, Vice Admiral Samarasinghe said. Indian ships, INS Tir, INS Shardul, INS Tarangini and ICGS Varuna of the Indian Naval first Training Squadron arrived in the country last Saturday. INS Tir, INS Shardul and ICGS Varuna arrived at the Port of Trincomalee while INS Tarangini arrived at the Port of Colombo.
The ships were ceremonially welcomed in accordance with naval traditions by the Sri Lanka Navy. They are scheduled to stay in Sri Lanka until October15.
A special programme arranged for the group of one hundred and sixty (160) visiting Indian Naval officer cadets on board INS Tir and INS Shardul of the Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard Ship Varuna commenced on 10 October 2010.
The practical sea training on board these ships for one hundred and twenty-eight (128) cadet officers, midshipmen and direct entry officers who are under training at the Trincomalee Naval and Maritime Academy also commenced simultaneously.
The Indian Naval officer cadets undertook a tour of the Trincomalee Naval and Maritime Academy and visited the Sri Lanka Military Academy and the Sri Lanka Air Force Academy in Diyatalawa, Captain Senerath said.
