Cadex 2009
Encyclopedia
Cadex 2009 was a military training exercise
involving the Indian Navy
, Sri Lanka Navy and the Indian Coast Guard
. The three day long training exercise was held from 6 October to 8 October 2009. Training exercises between the two countries had been held annually, but this had been delayed because of the Sri Lankan Civil War
. It was also the first training exercise between the two navies since the end of the war.
The Indian vessels that participated in the Cadex 2009 exercises were INS Shardul
, a landing ship tank of the India Navy and INCGS Varuna, an offshore patrol vessel of the Indian Coast Guard. The offshore patrol vessels SLNS Sayura
and SLNS Samudura
, along with the transport vessel A521 were the participating vessels from the Sri Lanka Navy.
Thisara Samarasinghe
, the Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy
. Cadex 2009 was initiated despite accusations from some Indian media that the Sri Lanka Navy had killed more than 50 South Indian fishermen. The plans for the exercise were not revealed until the day the Indian cadets arrived in Sri Lanka.
The Indian cadets who participated in the exercise were from the 1st Training Squadron, based in Kochi. They arrived at the Colombo Harbour on 5 October 2009 aboard the INS Krishna and the two vessels that participated in the exercise, Shardul and Varuna.
Cadex 2009 was intended to provide an opportunity for the Sri Lankan cadets to train on board Indian ships and to "enhance and exchange knowledge". The Indian cadets, in turn, were to "familiarize themselves with (Sri Lankan) tri-forces military training institutions" and also to visit places of historical and cultural value in order to "strengthen the ties between the two countries".
at Trincomalee
, and 141 Indian cadets took part in the exercises. The vessels set out from the Colombo harbour at 9.00 am (local time, UTC+5:30
) and sailed for five hours before arriving at the planned location for the exercises, 35 nmi (64.8 km; 40.3 mi) south west of the Colombo harbour. The Sri Lanka Navy also took media personnel aboard the SLNS Hansaya to report the exercise.
A cordon was set up around the area by Fast Attack Craft
of the Sri Lanka Navy. Live fire exercises were started on the night of 6 October. The exercises included a visit, board, search, and seizure
(VBSS) training for the Sri Lanka Navy's Special Boat Squadron, and helicopter landings aboard the Shardul and Sayura. The ships returned to the Colombo harbour on 8 October.
The Indian cadets also visited the Sri Lanka Military Academy
in Diyatalawa
, the Naval and Maritime Academy
in Trincomalee
and the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University
in Kandawala
. They also visited places of "cultural and historical value" value in the country.
politicians had expressed dissatisfaction at the Indian Navy agreeing to hold Cadex 2009 with the Sri Lanka Navy. This friction is even stronger after alleged attacks on Indian fishermen by Sri Lanka Navy on January 12, 2011 near Tamil Nadu.
Military exercise
A military exercise is the employment of military resources in training for military operations, either exploring the effects of warfare or testing strategies without actual combat...
involving the Indian Navy
Indian Navy
The Indian Navy is the naval branch of the armed forces of India. The President of India serves as the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy. The Chief of Naval Staff , usually a four-star officer in the rank of Admiral, commands the Navy...
, Sri Lanka Navy and the Indian Coast Guard
Indian Coast Guard
The Indian Coast Guard is a branch of the Indian Armed Forces. Its mission is the protection of India's maritime interests and maritime law enforcement with jurisdiction over both territorial and international waters....
. The three day long training exercise was held from 6 October to 8 October 2009. Training exercises between the two countries had been held annually, but this had been delayed because of the Sri Lankan Civil War
Sri Lankan civil war
The Sri Lankan Civil War was a conflict fought on the island of Sri Lanka. Beginning on July 23, 1983, there was an on-and-off insurgency against the government by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam , a separatist militant organization which fought to create an independent Tamil state named Tamil...
. It was also the first training exercise between the two navies since the end of the war.
The Indian vessels that participated in the Cadex 2009 exercises were INS Shardul
INS Shardul (L16)
-History:Built at the Gdańsk Shipyard in Poland, INS Shardul was commissioned on 24 December 1975. She was decommissioned in June 1997.Her legacy was carried forward by the lead vessel of the Shardul class landing ships, .-See also:...
, a landing ship tank of the India Navy and INCGS Varuna, an offshore patrol vessel of the Indian Coast Guard. The offshore patrol vessels SLNS Sayura
SLNS Sayura
SLNS Sayura is the Flag ship and an Offshore Patrol Vessel of the Sri Lanka Navy.She was formerly, the INS Sarayu, a Sukanya class patrol vessel of the Indian Navy sold to Sri Lanka in 2000. She was upgraded with new armament in India before being delivered to the Sri Lanka Navy...
and SLNS Samudura
SLNS Samudura
SLNS Samudura is an Offshore Patrol Vessel of the Sri Lanka Navy. Formerly the USCGC Courageous of the United States Coast Guard, the medium endurance cutter was donated to Sri Lanka on June 24, 2004....
, along with the transport vessel A521 were the participating vessels from the Sri Lanka Navy.
Preparations
The Indian Navy was invited for the exercises by Vice AdmiralVice Admiral
Vice admiral is a senior naval rank of a three-star flag officer, which is equivalent to lieutenant general in the other uniformed services. A vice admiral is typically senior to a rear admiral and junior to an admiral...
Thisara Samarasinghe
Thisara Samarasinghe
Admiral Thisara Sugeeshwara Gunasekara Samarasinghe, RSP, VSV, USP, ndc, psc, DISS, MNI, SLN is a Sri Lankan naval officer and diplomat...
, the Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy
Commander of the Navy (Sri Lanka)
The Commander of the Navy is the professional head of the Sri Lanka Navy. The current Commander of the Navy is Vice Admiral D.W.S. Dissanayake...
. Cadex 2009 was initiated despite accusations from some Indian media that the Sri Lanka Navy had killed more than 50 South Indian fishermen. The plans for the exercise were not revealed until the day the Indian cadets arrived in Sri Lanka.
The Indian cadets who participated in the exercise were from the 1st Training Squadron, based in Kochi. They arrived at the Colombo Harbour on 5 October 2009 aboard the INS Krishna and the two vessels that participated in the exercise, Shardul and Varuna.
Cadex 2009 was intended to provide an opportunity for the Sri Lankan cadets to train on board Indian ships and to "enhance and exchange knowledge". The Indian cadets, in turn, were to "familiarize themselves with (Sri Lankan) tri-forces military training institutions" and also to visit places of historical and cultural value in order to "strengthen the ties between the two countries".
Training exercise
100 Sri Lankan cadets from the Naval and Maritime AcademyNaval and Maritime Academy
Naval and Maritime Academy , Trincomalee, is the location of initial officer training in the Sri Lanka Navy, and is located within SLN Dockyard, Trincomalee. It received university status in 2001...
at Trincomalee
Trincomalee
Trincomalee is a port city in Eastern Province, Sri Lanka and lies on the east coast of the island, about 113 miles south of Jaffna. It has a population of approximately 100,000 . The city is built on a peninsula, which divides the inner and outer harbours. Overlooking the Kottiyar Bay,...
, and 141 Indian cadets took part in the exercises. The vessels set out from the Colombo harbour at 9.00 am (local time, UTC+5:30
UTC+5:30
UTC+05:30 is an identifier for a time offset from UTC of +05:30. This time is used in:-See also:*Indian Standard Time*Madras Time*Sri Lanka Time*Bangladesh*Nepal...
) and sailed for five hours before arriving at the planned location for the exercises, 35 nmi (64.8 km; 40.3 mi) south west of the Colombo harbour. The Sri Lanka Navy also took media personnel aboard the SLNS Hansaya to report the exercise.
A cordon was set up around the area by Fast Attack Craft
Fast Attack Craft
Fast Attack Craft are small, fast, agile and offensive warships, that are armed with anti-ship missiles, guns or torpedoes. These are usually operated in close proximity to land as they lack both the sea-keeping and all-round defensive capabilities to survive in blue water. The size of the vessel...
of the Sri Lanka Navy. Live fire exercises were started on the night of 6 October. The exercises included a visit, board, search, and seizure
Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure
Visit, board, search, and seizure is the term for maritime boarding actions and tactics, designed to capture enemy vessels, to combat terrorism, piracy and smuggling, and to conduct customs, safety and other inspections, as employed by modern navies, marine and maritime services, military and...
(VBSS) training for the Sri Lanka Navy's Special Boat Squadron, and helicopter landings aboard the Shardul and Sayura. The ships returned to the Colombo harbour on 8 October.
The Indian cadets also visited the Sri Lanka Military Academy
Sri Lanka Military Academy
The Sri Lanka Military Academy , commonly known simply as Diyatalawa, is the Sri Lanka Army's officer initial training centre located in the garrison town of Diyatalawa in the central highlands of Sri Lanka....
in Diyatalawa
Diyatalawa
Diyatalawa is a garrison town in the central highlands of Sri Lanka, in the Badulla District of Uva Province. It is at an altitude of and has become a popular destination for local holiday makers...
, the Naval and Maritime Academy
Naval and Maritime Academy
Naval and Maritime Academy , Trincomalee, is the location of initial officer training in the Sri Lanka Navy, and is located within SLN Dockyard, Trincomalee. It received university status in 2001...
in Trincomalee
Trincomalee
Trincomalee is a port city in Eastern Province, Sri Lanka and lies on the east coast of the island, about 113 miles south of Jaffna. It has a population of approximately 100,000 . The city is built on a peninsula, which divides the inner and outer harbours. Overlooking the Kottiyar Bay,...
and the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University
General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University
General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University located at Kandawala, Ratmalana, Colombo, is a joint services academy where cadets of the three wings Sri Lanka Army, Sri Lanka Navy and Sri Lanka Air Force are trained before they go for their pre-commission training to their academies...
in Kandawala
Kandawala
Kandawala was the home of General Sir John Lionel Kotelawala CH KBE LLD was a Sri Lankan politician, most notable for serving as Prime Minister of Ceylon from 1953 to 1956...
. They also visited places of "cultural and historical value" value in the country.
Reception
According to the Sri Lanka Navy, the training exercise reflects the "mutual cooperation of the two friendly navies and the long standing bilateral relations of the two neighbouring nations". However, some Tamil NaduTamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
politicians had expressed dissatisfaction at the Indian Navy agreeing to hold Cadex 2009 with the Sri Lanka Navy. This friction is even stronger after alleged attacks on Indian fishermen by Sri Lanka Navy on January 12, 2011 near Tamil Nadu.