Indian Army Chief arrives in Sri Lanka to review bilateral defence ties

Chief of Army Staff of Indian Army General Dalbir Singh Suhag arrived in Colombo on Sunday on a five-day visit to Sri Lanka at the invitation of his Sri Lankan counterpart, Lieutenant General Crishanthe De Silva.

Expecting to boost defence cooperation between the two countries the Indian Army Chief during his visit from 29 November to 4 December, will review the bilateral defence ties and discuss new avenues of cooperation.

Upon his arrival today General Dalbir Singh paid tribute to the Indian soldiers perished in Sri Lanka’s civil war during a solemn ceremony at the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) memorial at Battaramulla. He will also attend a wreath-laying ceremony at the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) memorial in Palaly, Jaffna during his visit to the North.

During his stay in Sri Lanka, the visiting Army Chief is scheduled to call on the Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, State Minister of Defence Ruwan Wijewardene, Defence Secretary Karunasena Hettiarachchi, Chief of Defence Staff, Air Force Commander and a few others.

He will also visit training establishments and Formation Headquarters.

An official statement by the Indian Army said the General Dalbir Singh’s visit “will further enhance the longstanding ties and cooperation in other areas of mutual interest between India and Sri Lanka, including regional security.”

“Bilateral exchanges at various levels over the past year with significant progress in implementation of developmental assistance projects, enhancement of trade and defence cooperation helped further cement the bonds of friendship between the two countries,” it said.

Defence cooperation between the two countries has been characterised by mutual training exercises, exchanges at functional level, cooperation in maritime security and humanitarian assistance.

General Dalbir Singh who had served the Indian Peace Keeping Forces (IPKF) in Sri Lanka in 1987 as a Company Commander is the 26th Chief of Army Staff (Army Commander) Indian Army has produced and commands the 1.3 million-strong Indian Army.

The delegation to Sri Lanka comprises the spouse of General Dalbir Singh, Namitha Suhag, Brigadier Gopal Gurang, Colonel Amitabh Jha and Captain N.K. Saraswat.