A naval exercise between the Sri Lankan Navy and the Pakistani Army in the waters around Trincomalee was called off a few weeks ago, Indian media reported .
The Pakistan Navy is known to have close ties with the Chinese PLA Navy. New Delhi has expressed concern over Pakistani warships associated with such an institution visiting a port as important to regional security as Trincomalee.
The Hindu website reports that multiple sources have confirmed that plans to hold a military exercise between the Pakistani and Sri Lankan navies in the strategic waters off Trincomalee were called off a few weeks ago after New Delhi conveyed its concerns to Colombo about the proposed exercise.
The Hindu website also said that the joint exercise was planned a few weeks before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Sri Lanka. But neither Sri Lanka nor Pakistan had issued an official statement on the plan.
However, the Sri Lankan Defense Ministry today denied this Indian media report. Responding to inquiries made by Ada Derana, a senior Defense Ministry spokesperson said that a ship belonging to the Pakistani Navy was allowed to visit Colombo following a request made by the Pakistan High Commission in Sri Lanka.
He confirmed that the ship had completed its naval exercise in Colombo and left the island on March 6, 2025.