INS Delhi, Indian Navy’s first indigenously designed and built guided missile destroyer, arrived at Colombo on 01 September 2023. The ship is on a two-day visit that coincides with the visit by the Hon’ble Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh to Sri Lanka.
The Raksha Mantri is scheduled to host the Hon’ble President of Sri Lanka, Mr Ranil Wickremsinghe, alongwith other prominent dignitaries onboard INS Delhi on 02 September 2023.
Further, as part of India’s ‘Arogya Maitri’ initiative to provide quality medical supplies to friendly countries, the Raksha Mantri will hand over state-of-the-art medical bricks that have been indigenously developed under project BHISHM (Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog Hita and Maitri), onboard INS Delhi.
The ship’s visit aims to strengthen navy-to-navy ties and bolster the Bridges of Friendship with India’s trusted neighbour. The crew of INS Delhi would be closely interacting with personnel from Sri Lanka Navy, both through professional engagements to enhance interoperability, and by creating environmental and health awareness through beach clean-up drive and a yoga session. The ship would also remain open to school children and other local visitors. The Indian contingent would also lay a wreath and pay homage to the martyrs at the IPKF memorial.
INS Delhi was commissioned in November 1997 and is presently Commanded by Capt Abhishek Kumar. The ship has recently undergone a mid-life upgrade and is equipped with the latest weapons and sensors, making it a formidable platform that is capable of undertaking all facets of maritime operations – on surface, air and underwater domains.
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