The Indian Navy’s frontline warship, INS Mumbai, is set to arrive in Colombo on August 26, 2024, for a three-day visit. The ship will be ceremonially received by the Sri Lanka Navy.
INS Mumbai, the third of the Delhi-class destroyers, was indigenously built and commissioned into the Indian Navy on January 22, 2001. Constructed at Mazagon Dock Limited in Mumbai, the ship completed its mid-life upgrade and rejoined the Eastern Naval Command in Visakhapatnam on December 8, 2023. This visit marks INS Mumbai’s first call at a Sri Lankan port and the eighth visit by Indian ships to Sri Lanka this year, following the visits of INS Kabra, Karanj, Kamorta, Shalki, and Indian Coast Guard ships Samarth, Abhinav, and Sachet.
INS Mumbai will deliver essential spares for the Dornier maritime patrol aircraft operated by the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF). Since its induction two years ago, the Dornier aircraft has provided critical surveillance capabilities over Sri Lanka’s Sea Area of Responsibility (AOR) and significantly enhanced the country’s search and rescue operations within its vast Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The Indian Navy also supports the maintenance of this aircraft with a technical team and spares, in addition to training SLAF pilots and flight navigators. Earlier this year, Indian ships INS Kabra and ICGS Sachet delivered spare parts for the Sri Lanka Coast Guard ship Suraksha.
During its stay in Colombo, INS Mumbai will conduct familiarization tours for Sri Lanka Navy personnel to share best practices between the two navies. Earlier this month, student officers and cadets from the Naval and Maritime Academy in Trincomalee visited the submarine INS Shalki, adding value to their training. The Indian Navy also provides specialized courses in areas such as hydrography to enhance the capacity of the Sri Lanka Navy.
The Commanding Officer of INS Mumbai will call on Rear Admiral W.D.C.U Kumarasinghe, Commander of the Western Naval Area, at the Western Naval Area Headquarters upon arrival. The ship will also engage in joint activities with the Sri Lanka Navy, including sports events, yoga sessions, and beach cleaning.
It is customary for Indian naval ships to make port calls at Sri Lankan ports when transiting between the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal. This visit is categorized as an Operational Turn Around (OTR), during which the ship will replenish fuel and provisions. The crew will have the opportunity to rest, recuperate, and visit key sites in Colombo and Galle.
INS Mumbai is scheduled to depart the island on August 29, 2024.
