Indian Navy's Destroyer 'INS Mumbai' Visits Sri Lanka As Three Chinese Ships Dock At The Same Port

Indian Navy destroyer INS Mumbai docked at Colombo port as three Chinese ships berthed at the same port on Monday (26 August).

The destroyer is on a three-day visit to Sri Lanka.

This is the first visit of INS Mumbai to Sri Lanka and the eighth visit by an Indian ship this year. It is bringing essential spares, support, and equipment for the Sri Lankan Air Force-operated Dornier maritime surveillance aircraft.

India is also training Sri Lankan personnel, both pilots and support staff, to operate Dornier patrol aircraft.

On the same day, three Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) ships — He Fei, Wuzhishan, and Qilianshan — docked at the same port in Colombo.

He Fei is a destroyer operated by a crew of 267 personnel, while the other two, Wuzhishan and Qilianshan, are landing platform dock ships that can support troops for beach landing operations.

INS Mumbai will take part in multiple joint activities such as yoga, beach cleaning, and sports activities with the Sri Lankan Navy. It will also undertake a passage exercise with a Sri Lankan Navy ship upon its departure on 29 August.