Indian Army Chief assures full commitment to Sri Lanka’s security

Saturday, 22 December 2012 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The visiting Indian Chief of Army Staff General Bikram Singh as a part of his current official visit to the island called on the Sri Lanka’s Commander-in-Chief President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo Thursday.

During discussions with the President, the Indian Army Chief assured his government’s full commitment to Sri Lanka’s security and expressed that the Indian government and the military are committed to further strengthening cooperation between the two countries. He thanked the President for erecting the monument commemorating the Indian Peace Keeping Force.

Recalling the cordial and historic relations that continue to exist between the two countries, President Rajapaksa underlined the need for further fostering of such cooperation and understanding since both nations are the closest neighbors to each other in the Indian Ocean.

The visiting Army Chief presented a Buddha statue to President Mahinda Rajapaksa to mark the occasion. Indian High Commissioner in Colombo Ashok K. Kantha, Major General Rajeev Tewari and the Defense Attaché at the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka Captain Sumith Kapoor were present for the discussion as well as the Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga and Army Commander Jagath Jayasuriya. General Singh also called on Secretary Defence and Urban Development Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the Ministry of Defense. Earlier on the day (20), General Bikram Singh paid courtesy calls on the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Roshan Goonetileke, Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Jayanath Colombage and the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal H.D Abeywickrema at their respective Headquarters in Colombo.