The Indian naval ship INS Sharda arrived at the Port of Colombo on Wednesday for an operational turnaround visit, the Sri Lanka Navy said in a statement reported by Ada Derana.
The offshore patrol vessel is commanded by Commander Kartik Sachdeva. The Sri Lanka Navy extended a traditional welcome to the visiting ship upon her arrival in keeping with time-honoured naval customs.
During the stay, the ship’s crew is scheduled to take part in several programmes organised by the Sri Lanka Navy aimed at fostering camaraderie and professional interaction, the statement said. Visiting Indian naval personnel are also expected to visit several prominent tourist attractions on the island.
INS Sharda’s port call adds to a steady run of Indian Ocean naval engagement at Colombo Harbour, following the June 1 simultaneous arrivals of Indian and Pakistani naval vessels. The OPV class is the Indian Navy’s typical workhorse for patrolling shared maritime patches, exclusive economic zone surveillance and anti-piracy operations across the western Indian Ocean.
Operational turnaround visits are routine in bilateral naval programming, providing logistical replenishment and crew rest while reinforcing the broader Sri Lanka–India maritime cooperation framework. They sit alongside higher-profile diplomatic moments such as the recent twin meetings between Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath and Foreign Secretary Aruni Wijewardane in giving the Indian Navy continuous physical presence in Sri Lanka’s main port.
Update — June 13: Departure
INS Sharda departed Colombo on Saturday, June 13, concluding the three-day replenishment visit, Newswire reported. The Sri Lanka Navy accorded the ship a traditional naval farewell at the Port of Colombo.
During the visit, the Commanding Officer held official discussions with the Commander Western Naval Area and the Flag Officer Commanding the Naval Fleet at the Western Naval Command Headquarters and Naval Fleet Headquarters, with talks focused on matters of mutual interest. The two navies also held a friendly volleyball match and a joint yoga session, while Sri Lanka Navy personnel were given the opportunity to tour the visiting vessel and the INS Sharda crew visited several culturally significant sites across the island.
