CONEX 19 concludes successfully
January 30, 2019The Sri Lanka Navy organized "Colombo Naval Exercise" (CONEX 19), concluded successfully on Tuesday (29 January). According to Navy media, the Exercise began with the inaugural ceremony onboard Navy's new Advanced Offshore Patrol Vessel, SLNS Sindurala, on Saturday (26).
The four-day Exercise saw seven (07) Navy ships, including "Sindurala", "Sagara", "Samudura", "Prathapa", "Suranimala", "Mihikatha", "Rathnadeepa" and two (02) Coast Guard ships, ''Suraksha" and "Samudraraksha" taking part in maneuvers. In addition, eight (08) Navy Fast Attack Craft and Sri Lanka Air Force helicopters also participated in the exercise held in the seas off Colombo.
A wide range of exercises including, passage through mined waters, Replenishment at Sea (RAS) approaches, night firing, Towing Exercises (TOWEX), means of communication and Visit Board Search and Seizure (VBSS) exercises were carried out during the four-day period. During the Exercise a special drill (MEDEVAC) was also carried out by Navy and Air Force troops to air evacuate a patient from a ship at sea.
It is believed that CONEX 19 has paved way to improve operational readiness and training capabilities of both forces, and also such exercises will be crucial for the interoperability between the services and expansion of capacity of both Navy and Air Force when conducting combined exercises to maintain maritime security in the country's territorial waters.
