Trilateral Coast Guard Exercise 'Dosti 16' started in Maldives

Current Context: The Trilateral Coast Guard Exercise ‘Dosti 16’ was conducted in Malé, the capital of the Maldives. This exercise brought together the coast guards of Maldives, India, and Sri Lanka to address shared maritime security concerns through collaboration and interoperability.

• The exercise aimed to enhance cooperation, strengthen friendship, and develop mutual operational capability among the participating countries.
• The Indian Coast Guard ships Samarth and Abhinav, along with the Sri Lanka Naval Ship Samudura, participated in the exercise. Bangladesh also participated as an observer.
• The exercise began on Thursday, February 22, 2024, and continued until Sunday, February 25, 2024.
• It provided participating forces with opportunities to engage in various maritime activities, including interdiction operations, search and rescue missions, surveillance, and communication drills.

Question:

Q.1 Which countries participated in the exercise ‘Dosti 16’?
a. Maldives, India, and Bangladesh
b. Maldives, India, and Sri Lanka
c. India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh
d. Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh