Cadex -2009
by Ananth Palakidnar
 Cadex -2009, the Naval training
exercise between the Indian and the Sri Lankan youg officer cadets took
place in the South Western seas of Sri Lanka for three days from October
6 to 9.
The training exercise was unique as it had taken place for the first
time since the LTTE terrorism was wiped out from the Lankan soil.
The officer cadets of both India and Sri Lanka were in their early
twenties were not only exchanging their knowledge and skills of the
Naval duties. They were also more active in sharing their favourite past
times. A total number of four ships of the Indian and the Lankan Navies
had taken part in the Cadex exercise with the cadets of both countries
were on board of those ships.
The INS Sharadul and INCG Varuna of the Indian Coast Guard along with
SLNS Samudra and SLNS Sayura from the Lankan Navy were carrying the
officer cadets in the high seas of South West ern Sri Lanka.
 India plays a vital role in training the members of the junior and
senior members of the Lankan armed forces for a long period.
The Naval training exercise had been an annual feature for the past
ten years.However due to the heavy involvement of all three Lankan
forces against the LTTE terrorists, the training exercise between India
and Sri Lanka did not take place last year.
 So with the end of LTTE terrorism early this year, the commanders of
Indian and the Lankan Navies came forward to revamp the training between
both countries and the outcome was a big success with the participation
of 141 young officer cadets from India and 100 young Naval cadets from
Sri Lanka.According to Navy spokesperson Captain D.K.P.Dassanayaka the
young cadets of India and Sri Lanka in their early twenties are the
future officers of both Navies who will be tasked with the
responsibilities of guarding territorial waters of both countries.
“Sri Lanka being an island nation and India with maritime borders
covering Sri Lanka ,Pakistan and Bangladesh the Indian sub continent
waters have to be constantly put under vigilance to get rid of any form
of threats emerging from seas.Therefore Sri Lanka’s past experience with
dealing the LTTE’s ‘Sea Tiger’ wing and India’s own experience of the
upkeep of a `blue water’ have to be exchanged in building healthy Naval
relations between the two countries.
Apart from engaging in the exercices the young cadets of both
countries took part in various sports activities on board of their
respective ships not only highlighting their involvements in the traing
exercises but also in moulding themselves as good officers and
gentlemen.
 The Indian cadets were also provided with the opportunity of seeing
the marvels of the hill country and visiting the Sigiriya rock .
Cadex -2009 was a sucess. Whereas the Naval chiefs of both countries
deserve hats off. |
