Four Indian Navy vessels will arrive in Sri Lanka on Friday to hold a three-day training exercise for Sri Lankan Navy personnel in the country’s east coast.

Four ships from the Indian Navy’s First Training Squadron, namely Indian Naval Ships TIR and KESARI, Indian Coast Guard Ship VARUNA and Sail Training Ship SUDARSHINI, are visiting Trincomalee from March 27-29, the Indian High Commission here said on Thursday.

A series of professional, training, cultural and sports interactions will take place between the ships’ crew and Sri Lankan Navy personnel in the country’s eastern coast.

Ships from the First Training Squadron have been visiting Sri Lanka regularly. Their last visit to the island nation was in April, 2013 during which valuable training opportunities were provided to the Sri Lankan Navy.

The First Training Squadron, which comprises six ships including two sail ships, imparts sea training to Naval and Coast Guard Sea Trainee officers.

The ships of the First Training Squadron are the only ships of Indian Navy and Coast Guard where intensive practical ab initio sea training in seamanship, navigation, shiphandling, boat work and engineering is conducted for officers over a period of 24 weeks, according to a press release.

The Training Squadron is headed by Captain S R Ayyar, Senior Officer First Training Squadron and Commanding Officer INS Tir.

The First Training Squadron is a part of Indian Navy’s prestigious Southern Naval Command (SNC) headed by Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Vice Admiral SPS Cheema.

SNC is the Training Command of the Indian Navy which conducts naval training for officers and sailors, including those from friendly foreign countries.

As one of the finest destinations for training, Indian Navy has trained more than 11,000 international trainees from over 40 countries in the last four decades.

PTI