Sea Drill

May 30, 2012 (LBO) - A joint coastguard exercise on anti-piracy, search and rescue and pollution control involving ships from India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives had been held in seas of the Indian Ocean archipelago. The High Commission (embassy) of India in Colombo said in a statement that six ships and one aircraft had participated in the drill where Sri Lanka was represented for the first time.



India and Maldives had held exercise for 20 years.

"The successful completion of the exercise marked a new stage in cooperation between the three countries," the statement said.

"With the menace of piracy shifting eastwards, it is important for the Coast Guards of the three friendly countries to work together to ensure the safety of shipping in this region.

"The exercise further strengthened the bonds of friendship and enhanced inter-operability between the Coast Guards of the three countries.

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Indian coast guard ships Sankalp and Subhadra Kumar Chauhan with a Dornier aircraft, Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) ships Huravee, Ghazee and Shaheed Ali and Sri Lankan naval ship Sagara, with 35 coast guard personnel on board had been in the exercise.