Pakistan Chief of Naval Staff completes successful visit to Sri Lanka

Pakistan Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi has departed from Sri Lanka after a successful visit of four days. He was here at the invitation of his counterpart, Sri Lanka Navy Commander Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera. 

Admiral Niazi was accorded a traditional red carpet Sri Lankan welcome at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) upon arrival. 

He visited Sri Lanka Navy Headquarters and held a meeting with Vice Admiral Perera. Both discussed various avenues to further enhance the already exemplary Navy to Navy relations. Both were satisfied with the progress made in various areas, reminiscing the long-standing relationship between Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Admiral Niazi also paid a courtesy call on the President, Prime Minister, Secretary of Defence, Chief of Defence Staff and met with Commanders of the Army and Air Force. During the meeting, the President underscored the importance of the Indian Ocean and the need for the two navies to develop mutual cooperation to meet future challenges. 

During his meetings with Secretary Defence and Sri Lanka Armed Forces leadership, Admiral Niazi thanked for participation in multinational naval exercise AMAN 23 by SL Navy ship which speaks volume of the defence relationship between the two armed forces. He pledged to stand by SL and continue to support each other through thick and thin. Both sides discussed the existing training cooperation and measures to improve it in future. 

Apart from his engagements at Colombo the Admiral also visited Trincomalee and Eastern Naval Area. He called on COMEAST and visited the Naval and Maritime Academy. 

Pakistan and Sri Lanka has a long history of brotherly relations and military to military bondage is nurtured by mutual trust, respect and comradeship which has flourished over the years. The Chief of Naval Staff visit comes days after the CJCSC General Sahir Shamshad Mirza who was in Sri Lanka recently. These high profile visits are specifically in connection with the 75th year of SL Independence which it celebrated on 4 February marking the diamond jubilee of bilateral ties as well.