Visakhapatnam, March 6 : The ninth edition of Indian Navy and Sri Lankan Navy’s bilateral maritime exercise Sri Lanka–India Naval Exercise (SLINEX) is scheduled to begin at Visakhapatnam from March 7 to 10, 2022. The exercise will be conducted in two phases – the harbour phase at Visakhapatnam on March 7-8, followed by the sea phase on March 9-10 in the Bay of Bengal, a statement from the Navy said here on Sunday. Sri Lankan Navy will be represented by SLNS Sayurala, an advanced offshore patrol vessel and the Indian Navy by INS Kirch, a guided missile corvette. Other participants from the Indian Navy include INS Jyoti, a Fleet support tanker, Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), Seaking and Chetak Helicopters and Dornier Maritime Patrol Aircraft. The previous edition of SLINEX was conducted off Trincomalee in October, 2020. SLINEX aims to enhance inter-operability, improve mutual understanding and exchange best practices and procedures for multi-faceted maritime operations between both navies. The Harbour Phase would include professional, cultural, sporting and social exchanges. Exercises during Sea Phase will include surface and anti-air weapon firing exercises, seamanship evolutions, aviation operations, including cross deck flying, advanced tactical manoeuvres and special forces operations at sea. These will further enhance the high degree of inter-operability already existing between the two navies. SLINEX exemplifies the deep maritime engagement between India and Sri Lanka and has grown in scope over the years to strengthen mutual cooperation, in consonance with India’s policy of ‘Neighbourhood First’ and PMs vision of ‘Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR)’. KNR RJ