IAF Chief meets top Sri Lankan leadership to further bolster military ties

Colombo: Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari has held meetings with the Sri Lankan top government and military officials to further strengthen the military cooperation between the two nations. CAS is on a four-day visit to the neighbouring island nation.

On day two of his visit, IAF Chief called on Sri Lankan Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena. During the meeting, both sides held deliberations over several key issues. Air Chief Marshal Choudhury announced New Delhi's plan to build a 'Friendship Auditorium' at the Sri Lanka Air Force Base in Trincomalee as a mark of close cooperation between the two Air Forces. 

He further added, the two Air Forces will also be conducting a joint exercise on disaster management in the last quarter of this year in Sri Lankan waters. The Sri Lankan Prime Minister, during the talks, expressed gratitude to the Indian Air Force for their immediate response and action to the call for supporting Sri Lanka during recent maritime disasters in their waters. On the occasion of the meeting, PM Gunawardena also 'thanked India for the continuous support given to Sri Lanka at this time of crisis'.

He also met Sri Lankan Defence Secretary Gen (Retd) Kamal Gunaratne, CDS Gen Shavendra Silva, and Cdr of the SL Army Lt Gen Vikum Liyanage. 

Indian Air Force shared in a tweet, "On the second day of his ongoing visit to Sri Lanka, the CAS Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari met and interacted with the Honourable Prime Minister Shri Dinesh Gunawardena, Defence Secretary Gen (Retd) Kamal Gunaratne, CDS Gen Shavendra Silva & Cdr of SL Army Lt Gen Vikum Liyanage." 

"During his interactions with the dignitaries and military officials, the CAS had meaningful discussions on boosting military relations between both the countries. He also paid his respects to the supreme sacrifice of the Indian soldiers by laying a wreath at the #IPKF memorial," it added. 

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