The Chief of Defence Staff, General Shavendra Silva WWV RWP RSP VSV USP ndc psc MPhil embarked on a visit to the neighbouring country India at the invitation extended by the Chief of Staff – India General Anil Chauhan PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM, VSM to review the Passing Out Parade of the Indian Military Academy and to have bilateral discussions with the Indian Defence hierarchies.
In a significant diplomatic exchange, the senior most serving officer of Sri Lanka, General Shavendra Silva engaged in fruitful discussions with the Indian Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Radhakrishnan Hari Kumar PVSM, AVSM, VSM, ADC at the office of the Indian Chief of Naval Staff that marked by a warm military reception to welcome General Shavendra Silva.
Before commencing the discussions proper, the CDS conveyed his gratitude to the Indian Navy for the assistance extended to the Armed Forces of Sri Lanka, particularly to the Sri Lanka Navy. In response, the Indian Chief of Naval Staff assured the continued assistance to Sri Lanka in times of need. He further highly commended the role of General Shavendra Silva the former Commander of the Army and present CDS to safeguard the country and its people from multi-faceted challenges.
The talks extended to discuss on technology transfer and Naval equipment assistance, reflecting a mutual commitment to advancing technological capabilities within the Naval forces of both nations. Disaster response strategies and search and rescue operations at sea emerged as another crucial focus of the dialogue. Both leaders deliberated on effective measures to enhance disaster response capabilities, highlighting the importance of collaborative efforts in addressing challenges arising from natural calamities.
As a symbolic conclusion to the productive meeting, mementoes were exchanged between General Shavendra Silva and Admiral Radhakrishnan Hari Kumar, signifying the commitment to continued cooperation and strengthened ties between the armed forces of Sri Lanka and India.