Indian Naval Submarine INS Vela arrived at the port of Colombo on Sunday on a formal visit to strengthen camaraderie between the Indian and Sri Lankan navies. The visiting submarine was welcomed by the Sri Lanka Navy in precision with naval traditions, the Island nation’s navy said in a statement. During the submarine’s stay in Colombo, the Indian naval crew is expected to participate in activities organized by Sri Lanka to strengthen camaraderie between the two navies.
In addition, personnel of the Lankan Navy are expected to visit the Indian submarine to take part in an awareness programme on its operational features. Moreover, the crew members of the submarine are also expected to explore some of the tourist attractions of the Island nation. After concluding the official visit, INS Vela will depart Sri Lanka on November 13, it added.
Meanwhile, the Indian High Commission in Colombo in a statement termed the visit of INS Vela as an Operational Turn Around (OTR), where the submarine will replenish provisions. The Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard ships and submarines have been making regular Port calls in Sri Lanka, it added.
INS Vela is a 67.5m long submarine with a submerged displacement of 1,775 tonnes and a crew of 53, commanded by Commander Kapil Kumar was commissioned on November 25, 2021. It is the fourth submarine of the first batch of six Kalvari-class submarines for the Indian navy. It is a diesel-electric attack submarine based on the Scorpene class, designed by French naval defence and energy group DCNS and manufactured by Mazagon Dock Limited, an Indian shipyard in Mumbai.
