Sri Lanka Navy and Sri Lanka Air Force partnered with the Indian Navy to take part in an air observer training exercise on a Dornier aircraft of the Indian Navy, reported News 1st.  The exercise was conducted on the southern coast from 2nd to 5th March 2021.

A total of 4 training sorties were carried out covering the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the southern coast of Sri Lanka. 7 air observers from Sri Lanka Navy and 4 air observers from Sri Lanka Air Force participated in the exercises.

“Such exercises will enhance the cooperation between India and Sri Lanka as key stakeholders for the security of the Indian Ocean Region,”  the Sri Lanka Navy said in a statement.

The exercises wil help the Sri Lankan Navy to enhance its effectiveness in response to distress calls from fishing boats from the sea. The search and rescue operation also involves the airforces and these exercises would better the coordination between the forces.