As many as 340 cadets passed out of the Indian Naval Academy (INA) at Ezhimala in Kannur on Saturday at a ceremonial passing-out parade reviewed by Sri Lankan Navy Chief Vice Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne.
The cadets who passed out included 272 cadets of the Navy, 66 of the Indian Coast Guard (ICG), and two international cadets – one each from Benin and Tanzania. The cadets belonged to four different courses including INA Course (BTech), INA Course (MSc), Naval Orientation Course (NOC - extended) and NOC (regular). The cadets included 25 female cadets.
Maritime security
The presence of the Sri Lankan Naval Chief, the first foreign Naval Chief to participate as chief guest at the passing-out parade at the INA, was seen by the Navy as a new chapter in consolidating bilateral naval relations between the two countries. A press release issued by the INA said two advanced offshore patrol vessels were in their final stages of construction for the Sri Lankan Navy at the Goa Shipyard. INS Darshak, a survey ship, recently completed a two-month survey deployment off Sri Lanka, it said.
In his address after reviewing the parade, Vice Admiral Wijegunaratne said India was one of the leading maritime arms in the entire Indian Ocean region. Indian Navy’s role in the region was not any more India-specific. Noting the importance of the geo-strategic location of India and its connectivity through trade in the Indian ocean, he said the ICG had a very prominent place in the region as a major law enforcement agency. He told the cadets that India’s destiny lay in their hands.
Meritorious cadets
The chief guest awarded medals to meritorious cadets. The President’s gold medal for the INA BTech course was awarded to Midshipman Akshay Sarveswaran. The Chief of the Naval Staff gold medal for the NOC (extended) was awarded to Sub Lieutenant Arpan Mondal and the Chief of the Naval Staff gold medal for the NOC (regular) to Assistant Commandant Ravinder S. Ramola.
Vice Admiral A.R. Karve, Flag Officer Commanding–in–Chief, Southern Naval Command, Vice Admiral S.V. Bhokare, Commandant, INA and Prof. Anil D Sahasrabudhe, Chairman, All India Council for Technical Education were among those present to witness the parade.
The cadets who passed out would now proceed to various Naval and ICG ships and establishments, the INA said.
