Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage, Commander of the Sri Lankan Army, held discussions with his Indian counterpart, General Manoj Pande, Chief of the Army Staff of the Indian Army, during an official visit to New Delhi. The Indian Army Headquarters welcomed Lt. Gen. Liyanage with a red carpet reception on Monday, following an invitation from General Pande.
Upon arrival, Lt. Gen. Liyanage paid tribute to the National War Heroes’ Memorial by laying a floral wreath. Subsequently, a formal parade saw troops of the Indian Army presenting a Guard of Honour salute to the visiting Sri Lankan Army Commander.
The formal talks commenced at the Indian Army Headquarters office, where matters related to bilateral defence cooperation, the augmentation of training modules, and the fostering of mutual understanding and friendship between the two armies were thoroughly reviewed.
Indian media reported that General Pande engaged in comprehensive discussions with Lt. Gen. Liyanage, focusing on enhancing bilateral military engagement, particularly in response to China’s growing military assertiveness in the region. Lt. Gen. Liyanage’s visit to India, scheduled from December 3 to 7, was hailed by the Indian defence ministry as a testament to the enduring relationship between the armies of India and Sri Lanka.
The ministry stated, “They exchanged ideas and held constructive discussions on various contemporary issues, including strengthening bilateral cooperation between the two armies.” Additionally, Lt. Gen. Liyanage interacted with key Indian officials, including Defence Secretary Giridhar Armane, Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, and Vice Admiral Sanjay Jasjit Singh, the Vice Chief of Naval Staff.
The Sri Lankan Army Commander is also slated to meet with Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan. The defence ministry emphasized that these meetings underscore the shared goals of enhancing defence cooperation between the two nations.
In a statement, the ministry highlighted, “The visit marks a momentous milestone in strengthening the diplomatic and military ties between two friendly neighbors. It reinforces the enduring camaraderie that has flourished over the years, promoting cooperation and mutual understanding in the realms of defence and security.”
The primary objective of Lt. Gen. Liyanage’s official visit is to deepen the existing bonds of mutual understanding and friendship between the two armies and nations. Furthermore, the visit aims to intensify bilateral defence engagements and explore new opportunities for defence cooperation, according to the Sri Lanka Army.
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