Enhanced interaction between Sri Lanka, Pakistan armed forces urged

The Quetta Association which comprises the graduate officers of the Command Staff College Quetta Pakistan held its first former convention on Friday at Galadari Hotel.

The Quetta Association was launched at Defence Services Command and Staff College Sri Lanka during the visit of the COAS Pakistan Army General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, NI (M), HI to Sri Lanka earlier this year.

The total members of the Quetta Association are 41who hold highly significant assignments in their respective institutions in all the segments of the Sri Lanka Armed Forces. The Quetta Association is a non-governmental, non-political, non-religious, non-ethnic, non racial and non-profitable organisation which provides a platform of interaction amongst the Graduates of command and Staff College Quetta.

General Rohan De S. Daluwatte Former Army Commander, CDS and Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Brazil is the Chief Patron of the Quetta Association.

The High Commissioner of Pakistan in Sri Lanka is the Co patron of the Quetta Association.

The ceremony at Galadari Hotel was chaired by Chief Patron of the Association General (Retd) Rohan de S. Daluwatte. During the meeting the association members approved the constitution for the body and elected working committee members.

The members also underlined the need for more interaction between Staff Colleges of both friendly countries for mutual benefit in imparting professional training to its students.

It was also decided to formulate a delegation of serving and Retd members of the association who will be visiting Command and Staff College Quetta soon.

While conducting the proceedings of the day, Col Sheharyar Parvez Butt, Defence Adviser of Pakistan urged the need to establish a more vibrant platform of the association which may be beneficial to both friendly countries.

The attendees of the convention included the Acting High Commissioner of Pakistan Amna Baloch, Major General A.M. Perera, Major General N.J. Walgama, Major General (Retd) G.W.W. Perera, Major General (Retd) Nihal RMarambe, Major General(Retd) Gamini Gunasekera, Major General (Retd) D.M. Deepal Alwis, A.V.M. (Retd) A.B. Sosa, AVM (Retd) E.V. Tennekoon, Brigadier H.A.N. Hapuarachchi,  Brigadier K.J. Wijetilleke, Brigadier W. Aruna Wanniarachchi, Brigadier H.J.S. Gunawardana Colonel Sheharyar Parvez Butt, Defence Adviser of Pakistan besides other serving and retired officers.

Pakistan and Sri Lanka being located in the South Asian region and being members of various regional and international bodies like UN, commonwealth, NAM and SAARC are mutually important for each others.

The relationship between Pakistan and Sri Lanka is based on mutual trust and commonality of interest in maintaining regional peace, security and stability. Pakistan has always supported the unity, territorial integrity and sovereignty of Sri Lanka.  

Both countries have shared common perceptions on almost all regional and international issue and are working together on all these forums for shared values and interests

Since independence, Sri Lanka and Pakistan have consistently maintained close, cordial and mutually supportive relations especially in the field of defense. Both nations have assisted each other during testing times in their histories.

Pakistan and Sri Lanka have comprehensive and mutually beneficial training collaboration for Army, Navy and Air Force.

Over a period of time, a strong bond of commitment and mutual understanding has been reached between both the friendly armed forces. In future too, both countries are expected to work more closely in the field of defence to boost peace efforts in the region.