News

Chinese vessels in Indian ocean, Indian Navy on alert

Published

3 years ago

2023/05/1

Navy’s third indigenous stealth destroyer of the Project 15B class, planned to be commissioned later this year, undertakes its maiden sea journey on Friday.

India is keeping a “very close watch” at the large presence of Chinese vessels in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and other developments in the region to protect its national interests in the maritime domain, Navy Chief, Admiral R Hari Kumar, said on Saturday.

A report published by the Indian Express said: During an interaction at The Chanakya Dialogue, organised by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Admiral Kumar said the Navy is aware that the Chinese PLA Navy is docking its ships at ports in Pakistan and at ports of other countries.

Stating that a certain amount of contest is taking place daily at sea, the Navy chief said while it is well below the threshold of conflict, the possibility of a full-fledged war cannot be ruled out. On the pace of modernisation of Pakistan Navy or PLA Navy, he said the former is looking to become a 50-platform force in 10-15 years and adding new corvettes and frigates to their fleet, while the latter has commissioned many ships and submarines in the last decade.

He said a third aircraft carrier is under construction and the PLA Navy is working on much larger destroyers, but this could plateau in sometime. “We are keeping a very close watch in the Indian Ocean Region,” he said. The Navy chief said the effort is to know who is present there and what they are up to. He said it is monitored 24×7 and the Navy and we deploy aircraft, UAVs, ships, submarines towards that.

“At any point of time, there are three to six Chinese warships in the Indian Ocean Region,” he said.

He said some are close to the Gulf of Oman, and some in the eastern part of the IOR, among others.He said two to four Chinese research vessels are always present in the region, and there is a presence of Chinese fishing vessels as well here. “So we refine our plans, actions that are required to be taken, and this also feeds into our capability development,” the Navy chief said.

Elaborating on Chinese research vessels, Admiral Kumar said they can track and collect electronic signals, and the Navy tracks them, especially when they are operating close to India’s areas of interest. He said the modernisation plans of the Navy involve making it a “well-balanced force”, and it is thus not about nuclear submarine vis-a-vis aircraft carriers, given that both have their own unique capabilities and they are not either/or.

Admiral Kumar reiterated that the Navy will be fully Atmanirbhar by 2047, which marks the 100th year of India’s Independence. Talking about the three components to a naval asset — float, move and fight — he said nearly 95 per cent self-reliance has been achieved in the float component, while in move and flight components, it is about 65 percent and 55 per cent.

He explained that the Navy’s role is set to grow with the Indian economy in the future, with the volume of trade multiplying with it.In a separate interaction, IAF chief, Air Chief Marshal V R Chaudhari said the IAF, in future, will have space-based offensive systems as well, leading to reduced response time and greater effect on adversaries.

He said the fundamental utilisation of space for military purposes includes Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance and communication and this has seen a quantum jump in their capabilities in the last several years.

Separately, referring to a difficult evacuation operation in Sudan on the intervening night of Thursday and Friday, where a C-130J Super Hercules aircraft rescued 121 people from a small airstrip at Wadi Seidna, the Air Chief told the media later that the IAF carried out the operation in the most difficult situation. “My kudos to the crew who executed this mission so flawlessly,” he said.

On the ongoing Operation Kaveri, he said IAF has already carried out 11 sorties and evacuated 1,850 civilians from Khartoum and Port Sudan and is on standby at Jeddah for more such operations.In a separate session earlier in the day, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan said there is a major change underway in the global order and the global security environment currently is in a state of flux and the new order is yet to crystallise.

“Post-World War-II, the Trans-Atlantic Anglo-Saxon lands could not unite around Europe the way the Russian invasion of Ukraine has done,” he said. He said Russia and China are getting closer and Iran is joining this bandwagon. Stating that India is the third largest ecosystem for start-ups globally, CDS Chauhan said the country is expected to be the fourth-largest economy by 2024, overtaking Germany.

All News Advertisement

News

Manjot Kalra denies fixing allegations in LPL 2026

Published

3 hours ago

2026/07/19

Priyan

Jaffna Kings co-owner Manjot Kalra was taken to court in Colombo [Cricinfo]

Former India Under-19 player Manjot Kalra has been remanded by the Magistrate’s Court in Colombo until July 31, Sri Lanka police has confirmed, after he was arrested on July 16 on charges of corruption relating to the 2026 Lanka Premier League season.

Kalra, who is one of the co-owners of the Jaffna Kings franchise along with entrepreneur Mayank Goel, was produced before the court on July 17.

According to local media, the court heard that Kalra had allegedly approached players participating in LPL 2026 – Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Sri Lanka national players Dunith Wellalage and Avishka Fernando – all of whom play for the Jaffna Kings franchise. Investigators revealed in court that Kalra had allegedly offered the players over USD 30,000 to influence the outcome of games, and that they had in their possession recorded phone conversations and video evidence to support their case.

Following the initial approach, the players are said to have contacted the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) for the Prevention of Offences Relating to Sports, after which they had, on instructions of the SIU, negotiated a payment of LKR 11.5 million with LKR 9.5 million as an advance. Kalra and an unnamed second person were arrested when the second person had brought a bag containing the advance payment to a pre-agreed location, according to media reports of the court proceedings.

The defence counsel rejected all allegations, asserting there was no evidence of Kalra offering or paying a bribe. Bail was sought but denied, with the Chief Magistrate stating that doing so could prejudice the investigation.

In a statement released on his behalf, Kalra denied the allegations and said he was “fully cooperating with the ongoing investigation” and “is confident that the facts will establish his innocence and clear his name”.

“Having had the privilege of representing India with honour, Mr. Kalra fully understands the responsibility and integrity expected of those associated with Indian sport. Throughout his career, he has remained committed to upholding those values,” the statement said. “Mr. Kalra became a co-owner in the league as a minority shareholder, entering the venture in good faith and with complete integrity. Prior to his association, the league conducted all requisite background and due diligence checks, which connfirmed his clean reputation.

“As the matter is currently under investigation, Mr. Kalra will continue to cooperate fully with the authorities and will refrain from making any further comments at this stage. He remains confident that the truth will prevail.

“Senior Counsel K Wasantha S Fernando, Attorney at Law and his able team of Junior Attorneys at Law are currently taking care of his interest and have expressed the confidence in disproving and negating the allegations leveled against Kalra and will ensure all possible steps are taken within the provisions of law to bring all perpetrators involved in fixing Kalra into this undesired situation to light while assisting law enforcement officers and Honorable Court to arrive at Justice in the right manner.”

The news of Kalra’s arrest broke on Friday, hours before the LPL season opener between Kalra’s team Jaffna Kings and Galle Gallants , a fixture that Kings lost by 36 runs.

[Cricinfo]

News

10th Navy Open Shooting Championship concludes

Published

4 hours ago

2026/07/19

Priyan

The 10th Navy Open Shooting Championship, organised by the Sri Lanka Navy, concluded successfully following events held from 1 to 12 July 2026 at the Small Bore Firing Complex,
Welisara.

The awards ceremony took place on 18 July at the Commander Parakrama Samaraweera Memorial Indoor Sports Complex at SLNS Gemunu, under the patronage of the Commander of
the Navy.

More than 900 shooters representing the Sri Lanka Army, Navy, Air Force, Police and a number of shooting clubs from across the island competed in this year’s championship. Notably, over 800 of the participants were school athletes, highlighting the growing interest and participation of young athletes in the sport.

The championship provided a valuable platform for members of the Tri-Forces, Police, shooting clubs and school competitors to compete alongside one another, exchange experience and further develop their technical skills in shooting. It also reaffirmed the championship’s role in nurturing young talent and supporting the development of future national and international-level shooters.

Competing in a highly competitive field, marksmen representing the Sri Lanka Navy delivered an impressive performance, securing a number of medals and bringing distinction to the Navy through their achievements.

The event also made a significant contribution to the promotion of shooting sport in Sri Lanka by identifying emerging talent and strengthening cooperation, sportsmanship and healthy
competition among participants representing a wide range of institutions and organisations.

News

Former IGP’s death likely due to an accidental weapon discharge

Published

18 hours ago

2026/07/19

Thilina Walpola

Wickramaratne

He was examining security officer’s new weapon while waiting for his wife to join him on a morning walk

Friday’s shock death of former IGP Chandana Wickramaratne due to gunshot injuries on his chest was possibly due to an accidental discharge of his personal security officer’s (PSO’s) pistol. Wickramaratne, who was kitted for his walk and waiting on the verandah for his wife to join him, was examining the PSO’s new weapon, knowledgeable sources said.

These sources said the wife who was putting on her shoes inside the house heard a bang and found Wickramaratne fallen on the verandah.

The retired IGP had noticed the security officer carrying a new weapon and had asked to examine it. Saying he carried a similar weapon years ago, he found no magazine and said, “are you planning to accompany me on my walk with a pistol without a magazine?”

The PSO had then handed the loaded magazine and gone into the house to fetch a requested bottle of water when the weapon had gone off.

The sources said that Wickramaratne was in no way depressed and had attended an Ananda College old boy’s event a few days ago, had dinner with friends and chatted with them. He had an appointment to meet a friend on Saturday.

Friends and family saw no reason for Wickramaratne to take his own life and there was no evidence whatever of an external agent shooting him. The former IGP was pronounced dead at the Colombo East Teaching Hospital to which he was rushed.

Police said investigations were proceeding and an autopsy report was awaited.

Wickramaratne was appointed the 35th Inspector General on November 25, 2020 and retired three years later in 2023. He had also set a record as the longest serving acting IGP since his naming to that position in May 2019 after his predecessor Pujith Jayasundara was sent on compulsory leave.

He joined as a trainee Assistant Superintendent in June 1986 after graduating from the Colombo University. He was absorbed to the National Intelligence Bureau where he worked till 1995. Thereafter he reverted to the uniform service and had been posted across the country, including the northern and eastern areas at the height of the war.