Indian submarine 'INS Vagir' leaves Colombo

by Staff Writer 22-06-2023 | 3:27 PM

The Indian Navy submarine INS Vagir, which arrived in Colombo on 19th June 2023 on a formal visit, departed the island today (22nd June).

The Sri Lanka Navy bade customary farewell to the departing submarine in compliance with naval traditions at the port of Colombo.

During this visit, the Commanding Officer of INS Vagir, Commander Divakar S called on Commander Western Naval Area, Rear Admiral Suresh De Silva at the Western Naval Command Headquarters.

Meanwhile, the crew of the submarine and a team of Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) played several friendly volleyball matches organised by SLN, with a view to promote camaraderie between both navies. In addition, the crew of the submarine also took part in a beach cleaning drive and visited some of the tourist attractions in the country.

Moreover, the High Commission of India in Colombo and the crew of INS Vagir organised a yoga programme on 21st June, to mark the 09th International Day of Yoga.

The event was held under the patronage of the High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, H.E. Gopal Baglay and the Secretary of Defence, General Kamal Gunaratne (Retd). The Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera, senior officers and a group of naval personnel from the Navy Headquarters and the Western Naval Command were present on this occasion.

The Commander of the Navy took time off to visit INS Vagir on 21st June at the port of Colombo where mementoes were exchanged between the Commander of the Navy and the Commanding Officer of INS Vagir, as a symbol of goodwill and cooperation.

The visit of INS Vagir was the first foreign port call of this recently commissioned indigenous Kalvari-class submarine of the Indian Navy.

During its stay in Colombo from 19-22 June 2023, thousands of people including school children, scouts, guides, members of the NCC as well as officers from Sri Lanka Navy and their family members visited the submarine and had the rare opportunity to get onboard. As an outreach initiative, the crew of INS Vagir also interacted with Colombo-based school children and presented essential items for some of these schools.

The visit fostered brotherhood and togetherness between the Navies of the two neighbours in line with India’s policy of ‘Neighbourhood First’ and vision of ‘Security And Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR)’.