An Indian Navy helicopter is in Sri Lanka for training Sri Lankan Air Force (SLAF) pilots and naval ships for ship-borne helicopter operations.
The Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) of the Navy is at the Sri Lanka Air Force Base Katunayake for the week-long training programme.
India and Sri Lanka are seeking to build closer ties amid the economic crisis in the island nation.
Apart from strengthening traditional ties between the two countries, the ''engagement'' between the two armed forces would foster closer inter-operability and coordination in maritime operations in the region, the Ministry of Defence, Government of India, said on Monday.
The training is planned over a week so that the SLAF pilots can familiarise themselves with the ALH. The training team will undertake extensive deck landing practice onboard Sri Lanka Navy’s Advanced Offshore Patrol Vessel Sayurala over the week.
“The training deployment is in line with the capacity building initiative of the Government of India amongst its neighbours as part of ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy. The engagement would also foster closer interoperability and seamless conduct of coordinated Maritime Operations,’‘ the MoD said in a statement.
The high level of understanding and coordination between the armed forces of the two countries would further cement the close relations achieved through millennia-old friendly ties between the two neighbours, the MoD said.
