Why in News
  • Indian Naval Ship INS Nireekshak arrived in Colombo, Sri Lanka for the 4th edition of India–Sri Lanka Diving Exercise (DIVEX 2026).
  • The exercise was scheduled from 21–27 April 2026.
  • It aims to strengthen India–Sri Lanka maritime cooperation in underwater operations and regional security in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

ABOUT DIVEX

  • A bilateral diving and underwater operations exercise between India and Sri Lanka.
  • Focuses on specialised naval diving, salvage, and rescue operations.
  • Hosted by Sri Lanka (Colombo) with participation from both navies.

OBJECTIVES

  • Enhance interoperability between diving teams
  • Improve underwater search, salvage, and rescue capabilities
  • Strengthen operational coordination during maritime emergencies
  • Promote exchange of best practices

KEY ACTIVITIES

  • Specialised underwater drills conducted over one week
  • Training in rescue, salvage, and diving operations
  • Social engagements, sports fixtures, and joint yoga sessions
  • Professional naval-to-naval interactions

HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE COMPONENT

  • Transfer of BHISM (Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog Hita & Maitri) cubes under the Aarogya Maitri programme
  • Portable medical units capable of handling around 200 emergency cases
  • Designed for rapid deployment in disaster situations

DEFENCE COOPERATION SUPPORT

  • India provided 50,000 rounds of 9 mm ammunition to the Sri Lanka Navy
  • Aimed at strengthening operational readiness and capacity building

STRATEGIC ENGAGEMENT & SIGNIFICANCE

  • Commanding Officer of INS Nireekshak held discussions with Sri Lankan naval leadership
  • Focus on maritime security cooperation and future collaboration
Strategic Significance Maritime Security Importance
  • Enhances capability for underwater operations such as salvage and rescue
  • Supports safety of shipping lanes and maritime infrastructure
  • Builds readiness for submarine and deep-sea contingencies

GEOPOLITICAL SIGNIFICANCE

  • Reinforces India’s SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) vision
  • Strengthens India’s role as a first responder in the Indian Ocean Region
  • Deepens India–Sri Lanka defence and maritime partnership

SIGNIFICANCE FOR INDIA

  • Strengthens naval interoperability and trust in the neighbourhood
  • Enhances humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) capability
  • Improves underwater operational readiness
  • Supports India’s maritime leadership in the IOR

CHALLENGES

  • Growing extra-regional naval presence in the Indian Ocean
  • Need for continuous capacity building of partner navies
  • Balancing security cooperation with regional sensitivities

WAY FORWARD

  • Expand bilateral and multilateral naval exercises
  • Strengthen HADR and disaster response coordination
  • Enhance technology sharing in underwater and rescue systems
  • Deepen cooperation under the SAGAR framework