Today, August 26, the Indian Navy’s front-line warship, INS Mumbai, made its first-ever port call in Sri Lanka when it berthed at the Colombo port for a three-day tour. The Sri Lanka Navy ceremoniously welcomed the vessel upon its arrival.
The commander of the Western Naval Area, Rear Admiral W.D.C.U. Kumarasinghe, is expected to meet with the commanding officer of INS Mumbai during its visit at the Western Naval Area Headquarters. Together with these activities, the Indian and Sri Lankan Navies will participate in sports, yoga, and beach clean-ups during their tour.
The third destroyer of the Delhi class, INS Mumbai, was built in India and entered the Indian Navy on January 22, 2001. The ship, which was constructed at Mazagon Dock Limited in Mumbai, just finished its mid-life refit and returned to the Eastern Naval Command on December 8, 2023, in Visakhapatnam.
Following visits by INS Kabra, Karanj, Kamorta, Shalki, and Indian Coast Guard ships Samarth, Abhinav, and Sachet, this visit by INS Mumbai marks the ninth port call made by an Indian vessel to Sri Lanka this year.
INS Mumbai will provide necessary spare parts for the Sri Lanka Air Force’s Dornier maritime patrol aircraft as part of the visit. Since entering service two years ago, this aircraft has greatly improved search and rescue efforts throughout Sri Lanka’s expansive Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and is essential to surveillance over the country’s Area of Responsibility (AOR). In addition, the Indian Navy has been crucial in supplying technical assistance and replacement components for the Dornier aircraft, as well as training Sri Lanka’s pilots and flight navigators.
Along with the material support, INS Mumbai will give Sri Lankan Navy officers an onboard familiarization trip with the goal of sharing best practices between the two fleets. An analogous visit was arranged earlier this month on the Indian submarine Shalki for student officers and cadets from the Naval and Maritime Academy in Trincomalee.
INS Mumbai’s visit is classified as an Operational Turn Around (OTR), which enables the ship to replenish supplies and refuel. During their visit, the crew will also get the chance to see important locations in Galle and Colombo.
The planned departure date of INS Mumbai from Colombo is Thursday, August 29, 2024.