India, Lanka defence delegations decide to hold joint naval exercise in 2011

[SpArK]

India, Lanka defence delegations decide to hold joint naval exercise in 2011

Colombo/New Delhi, Dec 27 (PTI) As part of steps to strengthen their defence cooperation in the post-LTTE era, India and Sri Lanka today decided to hold annual defence dialogues and step up bilateral military exchanges between their armed forces.

Defence Secretary Pradeep Kumar, on a visit here, held a meeting with his Sri Lankan counterpart Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, during which the two countries decided to start annual defence dialogues from next year, Defence Ministry spokesperson Sitanshu Kar said.

The mechanism of these talks was agreed upon during talks between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa during their summit meeting in New Delhi early this year.
Kumar is on a three-day visit to the Island nation with an aim to enhance defence ties between the two countries.

In the meeting, the two sides also agreed to hold a joint naval exercise in Sri Lankan waters in 2011, he added.


In addition to the defence dialogue, the armed forces will also engage each other in Annual Staff talks.


"The Indian Navy and Army will start holding Annual Staff talks with their counterparts from Sri Lanka from next year. In case of the IAF, it has been doing so since 2008," Kar said.

During the meeting, the two sides also reviewed the ongoing military cooperation and the progress made in the field, including the help provided by India to restore the Sri Lankan airfields damaged during the over two decade long civil war with LTTE.

"They also agreed that they shared common security concerns including the safety and security of sealanes of communication," he added.


In 2010, there have been several high level defence exchanges between India and Sri Lanka with the visits of Army Chief General V K Singh and Navy Chief Admiral Nirmal Verma to Colombo. IAF chief Air Chief Marshal P V Naik is also likely to visit Sri Lanka next month.
Kumar also called on Sri Lankan Foreign Minister G L Peiris and is also expected to call on President Rajapaksa tomorrow.

At the talks, the Indian delegation comprises of senior armed forces officers and the Coast Guard and Sri Lankan side is represented by a number of its senior commanders.

Kumar arrived here early in the day for a visit during which he will also pay homage to the Indian peacekeepers who laid their lives during the Sri Lankan civil war.


India is also expected to gift some military equipment such as shoulder-fired missiles and radars to its southern neighbour during the visit. .

India, S Lanka to hold annual defence dialogue from next year - *International News ? News ? MSN India