NEW DELHI: Vice Admiral Damian Fernando, Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy, undertook his maiden official visit to India from August 26 to 29, 2026, after assuming command. The four-day visit was aimed at consolidating bilateral maritime cooperation and enhancing Navy-to-Navy engagements between India and Sri Lanka in the Indian Ocean Region.
Upon his arrival in New Delhi on August 27, 2026, Vice Admiral Fernando paid homage to fallen heroes at the National War Memorial and was accorded a ceremonial Guard of Honour at South Block. He held bilateral discussions with Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, focusing on joint operations, capacity building, training programs, and maritime security measures. During his time in the capital, the Sri Lankan Navy Chief also met with senior defence leadership and interacted with Indian defence industry representatives to explore collaborative avenues.
As part of the official itinerary, Vice Admiral Fernando traveled to Kochi to visit the Southern Naval Command Headquarters and key Indian Naval training establishments. The visit aimed to strengthen existing training linkages and foster professional exchanges between the two forces. The Sri Lanka Navy remains a vital, longstanding maritime partner of the Indian Navy, and this visit marks a strategic step toward bolstering regional stability and maritime security.
