Sri Lankan navy takes part in Pakistan-led naval exercises

  SLNS Gajabahu took part in the Aman-21 international exercise and also a bilateral Pak-Lanka exercise in the north Arabian Sea The Sri Lankan navy participated in the multi-national maritime exercise AMAN-2021 hosted by the Pakistan Navy under the theme ‘Together for Peace’. The exercise formally commenced at the Pakistan Navy Dockyard in Karachi on February 12.     SLNS Gajabahu being welcomed at Karachi naval docks   Representing the Sri Lanka Navy at this multi-national maritime exercise, was Sri Lanka Naval Ship (SLNS) Gajabahu, Aman-2021 is the 7 th.in the Aman series. Having seen the customary farewell at the home port, SLNS Gajabahu on 05th February 2021 left Colombo for Karachi, Pakistan to attend AMAN-2021 which was held until 16th February with the participation of as many as 45 countries from across the world. The harbor phase of AMAN-2021 was held from 12th to 14th February at the port of Karachi where SLNS Gajabahu was reviewed by Admiral M Amjad Khan Niazi, Chief of the Naval Staff of Pakistan Navy. The sea phase of the exercise was held on 15th and 16th February in the North Arabian Sea with emphasis on maritime security operations, counter terrorism operations and humanitarian assistance operation. Based on this, the exercise sought to develop and practice Response, Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (RTTP) for maritime infrastructure, assets and forces against traditional and non-traditional threats. On the sidelines of the exercise the International Maritime Conference was held from 13th to 15th February under the auspices of Pakistan Navy on the theme of “Development of Blue Economy under a Secure and Sustainable Environment: A Shared Future for Western Indian Ocean Region”. The conference was attended by Flag Officer Commanding Naval Fleet, Rear Admiral Bandara Jayathilake, representing Sri Lanka Navy. As curtains officially brought down on the multi-national maritime exercise AMAN-2021 on 16th February, a two-day bilateral maritime exercise (on 17th and 18th February) between Sri Lanka and Pakistan navies commenced and SLNS Gajabahu is taking part in the exercise. By P.K.Balachandran