High Commission of India
Colombo

PRESS RELEASE

Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) Sagar: INS Sunayna

In continuation of Indian Navy's endeavour to build 'Bridges of Friendship', Indian Naval Ship Sunayna as IOS Sagar with a multinational crew from 16 countries is scheduled to arrive at Colombo on 15 May 2026 marking her seventh port call in the second edition of this deployment

2. The IOS Sagar was flagged off for sea phase from Mumbai on 02 Apr 2026, on completion of combined harbour training for multinational crew comprising officers and sailors from Bangladesh, Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Myanmar, Singapore, Seychelles, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor Leste, and UAE in the Indian Naval training establishments. The training covered seamanship, navigation, communication procedures, safety of life at sea, firefighting and damage control, along with specialized modules as Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS) operations and advanced bridgemanship.

3. During the port call, the Commanding Officer will call on Senior Officers from Sri Lanka Navy, namely Commander Western Naval Area and Flag Officer Commanding Naval Fleet. The multinational crew will have professional and sports interaction with Sri Lanka Navy, and will visit to various places of interest in Sri Lanka.

4. The initiative embodies the vision of One Ocean, One Mission, fostering deeper engagement and cooperation among maritime partners for maritime security. The deployment of IOS Sagar and the port call are in line with Hon’able PM’s vision of Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions (MAHASAGAR) and reflect the Indian Navy’ role in supporting cooperative maritime engagement in Indian ocean region.

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Colombo
14 May 2026