Sri Lanka, India defence chiefs discuss enhancing Defence and Security ties

New Delhi: India and Sri Lanka discussed enhancing ties and cooperation in Defence and Security relations between the two countries during the third India-Sri Lanka Defense Dialogue which ended on Tuesday (22).

Sri Lanka’s delegation for the third dialogue held in New Delhi was headed by Secretary to Ministry of Defence Karunasena Hettiarachchi and comprised Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard representatives.

During the stay in India, the Sri Lankan Defence Secretary met with the Indian Minister of State for Defence Rao Inderjit Singh and India’s National Security Advisor, Dr. Ajit K. Doval.

During interactions at the ‘Defense Dialogue’, the Sri Lankan Secretary emphasised the importance placed by President Maithripala Sirisena on enhancing the defence and security ties and cooperation between the two countries.

Both sides have discussed various issues of mutual interest and agreed on the necessity of continuing close understanding and touch on defence and security matters with a view to addressing common concerns and challenges for strengthening of security, peace and stability in the region, a statement said.

The two sides have agreed that significant progress had been achieved since the 2nd Defence Dialogue held in Colombo in October 2014, including the successful conclusion of staff talks between the respective armed forces, and the holding of the inaugural staff talks between the Coast Guard Departments of both countries.

The enhancement of bilateral cooperation in the areas of training, military and defence exchanges, joint exercises and maritime domain awareness and assistance to the Sri Lanka Navy on the supply of off-shore patrol vessels, were some of the other concerns that were taken up for discussion.