INS Nireekshak, the Diving Support and Submarine Rescue Vessel of the Indian Navy, arrived at the port of Colombo, Sri Lanka, on 21 April 2026 to participate in the 4th edition of IN-SLN DIVEX 2026, a bilateral diving exercise scheduled from 21-27 April 2026.

The joint exercise saw diving teams from both the navies undertake a series of specialised diving operations and training aimed at enhancing interoperability, cohesion, and exchange of best practices. The week-long engagement reinforces the continued commitment towards strengthening Indo-Sri Lankan maritime ties and shared maritime interests.

On arrival, the ship was accorded a ceremonial welcome by the Sri Lanka Navy in the presence of the Naval band. The Commanding Officer of INS Nireekshak, Cdr Sailesh Tyagi, called on RAdm SJ Kumara, Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Area, and held discussions on matters of mutual interest. In addition to professional engagements, the visit also featured social interactions, sports fixtures, and joint yoga sessions – fostering deeper bonds of friendship, goodwill, and camaraderie between the two navies.

As part of India’s humanitarian outreach, the ship presented two BHISM (Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog Hita & Maitri) cubes to the Sri Lankan authorities under the government of India’s ‘Aarogya Maitri’ initiative. These state-of-the-art portable medical units capable of handling up to 200 emergency cases are designed to provide rapid response and are equipped with essential medicines and surgical tools for basic procedures. Further strengthening maritime security cooperation, the Indian Navy also handed over 50,000 rounds of 9 mm ammunition to the Sri Lankan Navy.

The IN-SLN Diving Exercise (DIVEX) is a key bilateral engagement that stands as a testament to the deep-rooted maritime partnership between India and Sri Lanka. Sustained maritime collaboration and engagements with partner nations reaffirm the shared commitment to fostering stability, cooperation, and collective growth in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), in line with the vision of MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions).