First Training Squadron leaves Colombo port call

The First Training Squadron (1TS) of the Indian Navy, made up of INS Tir, INS Sujata and ICGS Sarathi, departed Colombo, Sri Lanka, on 29 October 2026 at the end of a port call that included talks, cadet exchanges and a sea exercise with the Sri Lanka Navy, the Ministry of Defence said.

First Training Squadron: Ships at sea during the Passage Exercise after leaving Colombo — Ships at sea during the Passage Exercise after leaving Colombo Photo: PIB (Government of India, free to use with credit).

What the First Training Squadron did in Colombo

During the visit, the Senior Officer of 1TS and the commanding officers of the three ships called on the Commander, Western Naval Area, of the Sri Lanka Navy. The ministry said the meeting reaffirmed close bilateral ties and a shared commitment to maritime cooperation. Sea trainees from the squadron visited the Naval and Maritime Academy (NMA) at Trincomalee and met their Sri Lankan counterparts. In return, Sri Lanka Navy cadets from the academy toured the 1TS ships to see the squadron’s training facilities and activities. The release said these exchanges let trainees of both navies share experiences and build professional camaraderie. The release was issued by PIB on 30 October 2026.

Key Facts

Squadron: First Training Squadron (1TS)
Ships: INS Tir, INS Sujata, ICGS Sarathi
Left Colombo: 29 October 2026
Exercise: PASSEX with SLNS Nandimithra
Framework: MAHASAGAR

Indian Navy outreach and PASSEX with Sri Lanka Navy

Indian Navy personnel took part in a beach clean-up as part of community outreach. The ships were also opened to visitors, including local residents and members of the Indian diaspora, who could meet the crew and learn about the Navy’s training and operational work. On leaving Colombo, the 1TS ships carried out a Passage Exercise (PASSEX) with the Sri Lanka Navy ship SLNS Nandimithra. The ministry said the exercise involved coordinated manoeuvres at sea and improved operational coordination and interoperability between the two forces. A PASSEX is a short drill that navies hold when their ships meet at sea or leave a port.

Warships manoeuvre together during the PASSEX Photo: PIB (Government of India, free to use with credit).

Why the Sri Lanka visit matters for INS Tir and the squadron

The First Training Squadron carries officer trainees on long sea deployments, and foreign port calls are part of that training. The ministry said the Colombo visit underlined the lasting maritime partnership between India and Sri Lanka and both countries’ commitment to regional maritime cooperation and capacity building. It linked the visit to India’s MAHASAGAR vision, which stands for Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions. The release did not give the squadron’s next port of call, so TrendDesh is not reporting one. In a separate release, the Navy said INS Tarkash arrived at Port Louis, Mauritius, on 30 October during an operational deployment to the Southern Indian Ocean, and will take part in events marking the 192nd Aapravasi Diwas on 2 November, which commemorates the arrival of the first indentured labourers from India at Aapravasi Ghat in 1834.

Why It Matters: Training cruises like this shape the next generation of naval officers and keep India's ties with Sri Lanka, a key neighbour in the Indian Ocean, active at the working level.

Source: PIB: First Training Squadron departs Colombo · Indian Navy · Ministry of Defence