Hispanopedia WikiSLNS Sagara (Sinhala: සාගර, romanized: Sāgara, lit.'Oceans') is an Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) of the Sri Lanka Navy. It was formerly the ICGS Varaha (41), a Vikram class Offshore patrol vesssel of the Indian Coast Guard, leased to Sri Lanka in 2006 and was handed over to the Sri Lanka Navy in 2015.
History
Commissioned on 11 March 1992, CGS Varaha (41) served with the Indian Coast Guard until she was leased to Sri Lanka in 2006. In August 2015 Sri Lanka acquired the ship for permanent use.[1]
Operations
Since 2006, SLNS Sagara was tasked with deep sea patrolling both within the Sri Lankan territorial waters and in international waters to curb ongoing arms smuggling by the LTTE during the Sri Lankan Civil War. In the later stages of the war after undergoing a major refit in India, Sagara, along with other OPVs of the Sri Lankan Navy, has been able to successfully intercept several ships smuggling arms for the LTTE. In all these cases the ships were sunk when they attacked the naval vessels with mortars.
Sagara, along with SLNS Nandhimitra, a Sa'ar 4-class fast attack craft participated at the International Fleet Review 2026 held at Visakapatanam, India on 18 February 2026 and Exercise MILAN held between 19–21 February. The ships departed Sri Lanka on 11 February and reached Visakhapatnam on 16 February.[2][3]
References
- ^India gifts ship 'Varaha' to SL Navy
- ^"SLNS Sagara and Nandimitra depart for India to participate in International Fleet Review and MILAN - 26" (Press release). Sri Lanka Navy. 12 February 2026. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
- ^"India welcomes Thai, Australian, Sri Lankan ships for IFR, MILAN 2026". Asianet Newsable. 16 February 2026. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
External links
- www.bharat-rakshak.com
- Varaha sees action
- 1992 ships
- Ships built in India
- Vikram-class patrol boats of the Sri Lanka Navy