SLCGS SURAKSHA LEFT COLOMBO FOR EXERCISE “ DOSTI – XV ”

Sri Lanka Coast Guard Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV), SLCGS ‘Suraksha’ sailed today (18^th November 2021) for Maldives to participate 15^th Edition of Trilateral Coast Guard Joint Exercise ‘DOSTI’ which is planned to be held in the seas off Male from 20^th to 24^th November 2021. SLCGS ‘Suraksha’ represent the Sri Lanka Coast Guard for the second time for an exercise in foreign waters since her joining SLCG fleet in September 2017.

The 4 days exercise is conducted jointly by Coast Guard agencies of India, Sri Lanka and Maldives with the aim of strengthening bonds of friendship and enhancing mutual operational capability and cooperation in the region. Further, exercise will focus on Maritime Search and Rescue, Marine Pollution Response and Law Enforcement Operations. Taking part in international maritime exercises of this nature, benefit Sri Lanka Coast Guard in many ways. Increased cooperation among Coast Guards, exchanging best practices and procedures in maritime operations, undertaking new challenges in maritime domain and collectively finding solutions to overcome those issues are paramount among them.

This year marks 30^th year of ‘DOSTI’. Thus, making Exercise ‘DOSTI’ the oldest continuous exercise conducted in the Indian Ocean.