Friday, Dec 17, 2004
Friday, Dec 17, 2004 |
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India & World
By V.S. Sambandan
A Coast Guard helicopter hovers over a column of Indian and Sri Lankan ships during a joint naval exercise off Colombo on Thursday.
COLOMBO, DEC. 16. The refrain, Sare jahaan se acha, Hindustan hamara, played to perfection by the Sri Lankan naval band on board the Sri Lankan ship, SLNS Sayura, marked the beginning of Operation Eksath — — the first joint naval exercise between the two countries — about 10 nautical miles off Colombo this morning. The non-combat, three-hour humanitarian exercise saw seven ships — two Indian and five Sri Lankan — sail out to the open sea and perform the joint exercises in three areas: search and rescue, anti-piracy and pollution control. The exercise, official sources said, aimed at maintaining preparedness to ensure the "safety and security of international shipping and lives at sea." The Director-General of the Indian Coast Guard, A.K. Singh, the Indian High Commissioner, Nirupama Rao, the Sri Lankan service commanders and the Secretaries for Defence and Public Security were among those who observed the exercise. As the SLNS Sayura gives way to the Indian CGS Sarang to lead the formation and the exercises, the mood on board the Sayura is one of expectation. The excitement soars as an Indian Coast Guard Chetak helicopter flies past the ships. After hovering low near the vessels, the Chetak recedes to the backdrop as the formation heads to the open sea. In addition to CGS Sarang, CGS Durgabhai Deshmukh, the Chetak helicopter and a Dornier aircraft comprised the Indian component. Four other Sri Lankan vessels joined the SLNS Sayura on the choppy waters. As Sri Lankan naval cadets and officers go through their ceremonial salutes and on-deck formations, a Fast Attack Craft of the island's Navy and an Indian Coast Guard ship carry out an anti-piracy exercise in a distance. The exercise, a Sri Lankan officer told journalists on board the Sayura, is aimed at equipping the Navy to intercept, board and regain control of a hijacked vessel.
Search and rescue
"Next we will carry out a search and rescue operation," announces Rohan Amarasinghe, the commanding officer of the Sayura. The Chetak helicopter is back, and as it flies between the ships, a trained Indian naval diver "falls" into the sea. A distress signal blinks to indicate the presence of the "drowning man." Within minutes, the friendly drone of a Dornier is heard and seconds later the fixed-wing aircraft flies over the "man in distress," and drops a life raft. The Chetak hoists the "victim" to the safety of the coast guard vessel. At the end of the exercise, the ships line up for a ceremonial steam-past. As the CGS Sarang sails past the Sayura, Capt. Amarasinghe, his officers and men, raise their hands to a crisp naval salute, marking another moment in ties between the two countries.
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