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Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), is in Colombo this week on a visit that goes beyond ceremonial diplomacy, reflecting India’s sharper focus on maritime security and strategic convergence with Sri Lanka amid shifting dynamics in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
During his four-day official visit, the CNS The CNS will hold high-level discussions with Sri Lankan Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, Vice Admiral Kanchana Banagoda, the three Service Chiefs, and senior government officials. These talks are expected to cover a wide spectrum of cooperation – from capability enhancement and training to strengthening collaborative frameworks for maritime domain awareness.
The visit comes as Colombo prepares to host the 12th Galle Dialogue 2025, where Admiral Tripathi will participate in deliberations on “Maritime Outlook of the Indian Ocean under Changing Dynamics.” With growing contestation in the IOR, the dialogue has emerged as a critical forum for regional navies to align perspectives on freedom of navigation, non-traditional threats, and collective security.
India–Sri Lanka naval ties already rest on a strong foundation of bilateral exercises like SLINEX, operational exchanges in hydrography and training, and institutional mechanisms such as the Annual Defence Dialogue. Their cooperation also extends to regional security groupings including the Colombo Security Conclave, MILAN, and the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium – all platforms where India plays a leading role in shaping maritime norms.
The Indian Navy frames the visit under the vision of ‘MAHASAGAR’, symbolising India’s aspiration to build partnerships of trust across the littorals. For Sri Lanka, which has increasingly been courted by multiple powers for strategic space in the IOR, the engagement reaffirms Colombo’s centrality in India’s maritime calculus.
In essence, the CNS’s visit is as much about nurturing time-tested ties as it is about ensuring that India and Sri Lanka remain aligned in safeguarding the Indian Ocean’s stability at a time when external power projection and regional volatility are on the rise.
Team BharatShakti
