Indian Navy’s submarine INS Shalki has reached Colombo. Giving information, the Navy said that Shalki has reached Sri Lanka for a two-day visit.
A crew of 40 people is present in the 64.4 meter long submarine which reached Sri Lanka from August 2 to 4. Its command is with Commander Rahul Patnaik.
Commander Rahul Patnaik said that during the visit to Colombo, an awareness program would be organized for the Sri Lankan Navy personnel on submarine operations. Apart from this, the crew members of the submarine are also expected to explore some of the tourist attractions of the country.
During the visit, the Commanding Officer will also call on Rear Admiral WDCU Kumarasinghe, Commander, Western Naval Area. After which there will be a visit and briefing by Sri Lankan Navy personnel on board the ship.
Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka will also visit the submarine
Giving information, the Indian Navy said that personnel of the Indian High Commission and Sri Lanka Defense Force in Sri Lanka are also scheduled to visit the submarine. The Navy officer said that there is a heritage of intellectual, cultural, religious and linguistic contacts between India and Sri Lanka and the relations between the two countries are more than two and a half thousand years old. Both countries share a broad understanding on key issues of international interest.
Country’s first submarine INS Kursura, which has now become a museum.
Commander A. INS Kursura Riga was commissioned in the former Soviet Union (now Russia) on 18 December 1969, under the command of Audto. The submarine began her journey from Balearic on 20 February 1970. The commissioning of Kursura into the Indian Navy saw its third dimension of growth. This was the foundation stone of the Indian Navy submarine branch. INS Kursura was decommissioned on 27 February 2001. After this it was converted into a museum.