India, Sri Lanka, Maldives conclude joint maritime exercise

Indian, Sri Lankan and Maldivian coast guard officers have concluded the maritime exercises for 2013 Trilateral Tabletop Exercise (TTEX), held in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka.

Sri Lankan Defence Ministry revealed that the exercises began on Wednesday at the Naval complex in the eastern port city, where the Director General of Sri Lanka Coast Guard Rear Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne officiated the launching ceremony.

The TTEX participants took part in practical demonstrations of pollution response on board two Indian Coast Guard ships.

Three papers themed 'Response to Oil spills: Importance of Awareness, Preparedness and Regional Approach', 'Maritime Piracy: Challenges in the Region and Countermeasures" and 'Mass SAR: Regional Challenges and Way ahead' were also presented by officers of the three countries during the three-day exercise.

According to the Sri Lankan Defence Ministry, the TTEX is an outcome of the Second National Security Advisor-level meeting on trilateral cooperation for security between the three neighbouring countries, held in Colombo in July this year.

The Road Map for future co-operation agrees to strengthen the biennial trilateral exercise "Dosthi" by conducting table top exercises and seminars on maritime issues held every other year.