SLN’s First Ever Biggest Naval Exercise “TRINEX” concludes successfully
The first ever biggest naval exercise of the Sri Lanka Navy code-named TRINEX concluded successfully on 04th April 2014. Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Jayanath Colombage took the salute during the steam past held on the final phase of the exercise held in the seas of Trincomalee, while onboard the Navy’s Offshore Patrol Vessel Samudura.
During the debriefing held at the Eastern Naval Command Headquarters, the Commander of the Navy commended the SLN fleet units for their performance shown drawing on their experiences gained from the joint exercises such as Aman in Pakistan, SLINEX in home waters as well as in India, Dosti in a friendly neighbourhood and many passage exercises (PASSEXs) with the visiting foreign naval ships. He stated that the fleet operations demonstrated their true caliber and provided the opportunity for assessment of our own capabilities and capacities. TRINEX has taken place at a time when the SLN fleet is looking to expand in our maritime jurisdiction with acquisitions of more OPVs and new additions. That transformation needs to be demonstrated through competencies of the officers and their men. The victorious navy must maintain the professionalism achieved both in brown water and blue water operations, the Commander emphasized. He went on to add that these are not just isolated events but part of a broader strategic vision in enhancing our maritime capabilities and capacities in pursuing a long lost maritime heritage. Fleet maneuvers are not just about keeping to formations; it’s about planning, delegating, executing orders, giving orders and many other facets of navigation, seamanship and traditions of a professional navy, emphasized the Commander in conclusion.
TRINEX commenced on 01st April to enhance the professionalism of the SLN fleet units and to provide training exposure to the Officer Under Trainees at the Naval and Maritime Academy (NMA). The exercise was held in the Eastern Naval Area under the direction of Commander Eastern Naval Area (COMEAST), Rear Admiral Rohan Amarasinghe and the supervision of Director General Naval Operations, Rear Admiral Neil Rosayro. It was planned and conducted by Flag Officer Commanding the Naval Fleet (FOCNF), Commodore Nimal Sarathsena. The exercise enabled the fleet units to rehearse and enhance own skills in order to gain from each other’s experience.
The four-day exercise was held in two phases consisting of harbour and sea training. It was structured to ensure maximum training value to the participants. The harbour training was focused on gaining theoretical knowledge and practical preparation for the exercise while Station Keeping By Distance Line (SKBDL), Jack Stay transfer, sea firing, Man Over Board (MOB) drills, visual & voice communication practice, towing and Visit Board Search & Seize (VBSS) were conducted during the exercise at sea.
SLN’s Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) SLNS ‘Samudura’ and SLNS ‘Sagara’, Fast Missile Vessels (FMVs) SLNS ‘Suranimala’ and SLNS ‘Nandimithra’, Landing Ship Tank (LST) SLNS ‘Shakthi, SLNS ‘ Ranawickrama’, SLNS ‘Ranajaya’ and SLNS ‘Weeraya’ belonging to the 03rd Fast Gun Boat Squadron (FBG3) and 06 Fast Attack Craft (FACs) belonging to the 04th Fast Attack Craft Flotilla (FAF4) took part in the exercise, which concluded on the 04th.
