NEW DELHI: The Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) Sagar, with a crew comprising personnel from 16 friendly foreign countries (FFC), arrived at Colombo Harbour on May 15 as part of its ongoing operational deployment in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). IOS Sagar is an Indian Navy operational engagement initiative designed to build collaborative maritime security and trust among nations in the IOR and allows naval personnel from various partner countries to train, sail, and operate together onboard an INS like INS Sunayna.The ship’s entry into Sri Lankan waters underscored the strong maritime partnership and interoperability between the Indian Navy and Sri Lanka Navy.On arrival, IOS Sagar was escorted into harbour by a Sri Lanka Navy ship.The three-day port call aims to further strengthen maritime cooperation and reinforce the collaborative security architecture in the region. During the visit, the commanding officer of IOS Sagar is scheduled to call on senior leadership of the Sri Lanka Navy, including the commander Western Naval Area and the Flag Officer Commanding Naval Fleet.The commanding officer will also meet the high commissioner of India in Colombo.In addition, the chief of staff, Sri Lanka Navy, is scheduled to visit the ship and interact with the multinational crew embarked onboard. As part of professional and cultural engagements, the multinational crew of IOS Sagar will participate in media interactions highlighting the objectives of the IOS SAGAR 2026 deployment.Friendly sports fixtures are also planned between personnel of Indian Navy and Sri Lanka Navy to foster camaraderie. The ship will be open to visitors during the stay in harbour, with personnel from the Sri Lanka Navy, schoolchildren and members of the Indian diaspora in Colombo expected to visit.Apart from official engagements, the crew of IOS Sagar will undertake cultural visits and professional tours to Colombo Port, Galle, Kandy and Pinnawala to promote deeper people-to-people ties and mutual understanding.IOS Sagar is scheduled to depart Colombo on May 18 with a Passage Exercise (PASSEX) with Sri Lanka Navy. IOS SAGAR’s visit to Colombo stands as a strong reflection of India’s “Neighbourhood First” policy and its continued commitment towards ensuring peace, stability and collective maritime security in the IOR.