Sri Lanka Army commander meets IAF, Navy chiefs; also briefed on Operation Sindoor
'Later, Lt Gen Rodrigo was briefed on Operation Sindoor and India's security perspective. He was also briefed by other senior officers of the Indian Army on matters of mutual interest,' the defence ministry said.
Before the two separate meetings, the general officer also had an in-depth interaction with Vice Chief of the Army Staff, Lt Gen NS Raja Subramani, and both the military leaders discussed wide-ranging issues, including aspects of 'defence cooperation and regional security concerns', officials said.
New Delhi, Jun 11 (PTI) Commander of the Sri Lanka Army, Lt Gen BKGM Lasantha Rodrigo, on Wednesday interacted with Indian Navy Chief Adm Dinesh K Tripathi and IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal A P Singh, with avenues of enhancing bilateral defence ties and boosting cooperation between the two armed forces, figuring in the discussions.
Lt Gen Rodrigo is on an official visit to India from June 11-14. It underscores the continued efforts of both nations to 'further strengthen and deepen' their longstanding defence partnership, they said.
He interacted with the Chief of the Naval Staff at the Naval Headquarters here, and the meeting underscored the importance of 'collective efforts in addressing maritime threats' and fostering partnerships between the two maritime nations, officials said.
The general officer will grace the Passing Out Parade at the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun, as the Reviewing Officer on June 14, the defence ministry said.
'This visit will mark a poignant return to his alma mater, where he was commissioned in December 1990, with the 87th Course of the IMA — an experience that laid the foundation of his illustrious military career. His presence at the Academy will rekindle memories of his formative years, now brought full circle as he would review a new generation of officers,' the ministry said in a statement.
The visit is 'set to enhance bilateral military cooperation' and 'explore new avenues for collaboration', particularly in the areas of training and capability enhancement, it said.
Lt Gen Rodrigo's visit began with a solemn wreath-laying ceremony at the National War Memorial in New Delhi earlier in the day, as he paid tribute to the fallen soldiers.
He was then given a formal guard of honour at the South Block Lawns. The ceremonial event, attended by senior officials of the Indian Army, marked a significant gesture of respect and a symbol of the enduring friendship between the two nations, the ministry said.
The Indian Navy, in a post on X, shared some photos of the meeting between the admiral and the general officer from Sri Lanka.
'On #11Jun 25, Adm Dinesh K Tripathi, #CNS interacted with Lt Gen BKGML Rodrigo, Commander of the #SriLankaArmy, at Naval Headquarters in New Delhi.
Both leaders discussed avenues of enhancing bilateral defence cooperation, focusing on shared #maritimesecurity challenges, joint training exercises, and capacity building initiatives,' it said.
'The meeting underscored the importance of collective efforts in addressing maritime threats and fostering partnerships between the two maritime nations.
India-Sri Lanka #BridgesofFriendship #MAHASAGAR #SAGAR @Sri_Lanka_Army @IndiainSL @adgpi,' it added.
During his meeting with the IAF chief, the two leaders discussed issues of mutual interest and ways to enhance cooperation between the two armed forces.
He also met with Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh.
These meetings provided an opportunity for the exchange of views on 'broader defence and security issues', focusing on matters of mutual interest, officials said.
Lt Gen Rodrigo also planted a tree at the Manekshaw Centre, symbolising the time-tested relationship between the Indian and Sri Lankan Army.
On June 12, he is scheduled to visit Jaipur and meet Lt Gen Manjinder Singh, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, South Western Command.
While the general officer will grace the Passing Out Parade at the IMA, Dehradun, the presence of Brigadier RMSP Rathnayake of Sri Lanka Army at the ceremony will add a personal and emotional dimension, as he will witness his son, Foreign Officer Cadet RMNL Rathnayake, being commissioned with the current course, according to the statement.
'This confluence of legacy and leadership underscores the enduring spirit of camaraderie and leadership connect between the two armies,' it said.
Lt Gen Rodrigo's visit to India is marked by a series of productive engagements aimed at furthering the defence relationship between Sri Lanka and India.
The visit not only highlights the commitment of both nations to strengthening their military ties but also underscores their shared focus on regional security and peace, the ministry said. PTI KND RHL
This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
24 minutes ago
- News18
Nobel Recommendation To Condemnation: How Iran Strikes Strain Pakistan's Ties With US
Last Updated: The country, which had recommended US President Donald Trump's name for the 2026 Nobel Peace prize on June 21, condemned the strikes on Tehran on June 22 The United States' strikes on the nuclear sites in Iran is a major diplomatic setback for Pakistan. The country, which had recommended US President Donald Trump's name for the 2026 Nobel Peace prize on June 21, condemned the strikes on Tehran on June 22. 'Pakistan condemns the US attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities which follow the series of attacks by Israel. We are gravely concerned at the possible further escalation of tensions in the region," said Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar in an official statement. — Ishaq Dar (@MIshaqDar50) June 22, 2025 WHAT HAPPENED ON JUNE 21? Pakistan lauded Trump for his role in negotiating the May 2025 India-Pakistan ceasefire, a move they believed demonstrated his commitment to peace. India has maintained that the US had no role in putting Operation Sindoor on halt and that the ceasefire was agreed upon based on Pakistan's request. Pakistan's Army Chief Asim Munir's White House meeting with Trump on June 18 also signalled closer ties. 'Pakistan's nomination of Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize was not just a symbolic gesture. It was a strategic effort to secure the U.S. support on key issues such as the Kashmir conflict and economic cooperation in emerging sectors like cryptocurrency and critical minerals," said intelligence sources. Analysts said Pakistan was also attempting to appeal to Trump's ego in the hope of dissuading him from taking aggressive action against Iran, thus maintaining regional stability and gaining leverage in their ongoing diplomatic efforts. WHAT HAPPENED ON JUNE 22? The U.S. strikes on June 22 have put Pakistan in a precarious position. The country, which shares a 900-km border with Iran, relies heavily on Tehran for trade, security, and the stability of its Shia community, which constitutes 15-20% of its population. The escalation threatens to destabilise Balochistan, a region already plagued by separatist movements, and could potentially embolden Sunni jihadist groups like Jaish al-Adl. While Tehran has refrained from publicly criticising Pakistan, the trust between the two neighbours is undoubtedly strained. Indian intelligence sources said Pakistan's diplomatic manoeuvre with the Nobel nomination was fraught with risks, given its significant dependence on Iran. The fallout from the U.S. strikes underscores Islamabad's limited influence in the broader U.S.-Iran conflict and highlights the fragility of its multi-alignment strategy. 'Moving forward, Pakistan faces the daunting task of balancing its relationships with both Tehran and Washington. This requires deft diplomacy to navigate an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape, a challenge that appears near-impossible amid the current crises," said sources.
Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Indian Express
Why Israel-Iran conflict may not immediately affect Indian military supplies
The ongoing Israel-Iran conflict may not have an immediate impact on Indian military hardware and maintenance support, except if it turns into another protracted conflict lasting several months, officials closely monitoring the conflict told The Indian Express on Sunday. 'The war is too new as of now to show any displayable impact on Indian military spares or hardware,' a senior military official said, adding that any diversion of weapons stock could take place in the instance of a long-drawn conflict. This is significant as India is actively working on replenishing much of its Israeli-origin weapons which were extensively used in Operation Sindoor against Pakistan last month. Over the last decade, India has purchased from Israel a range of military equipment and weapons including missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles, sensors and radars, air defence systems, and small arms. Many of these Israeli weapons and platforms—particularly loitering munitions and air defence systems—were used in Operation Sindoor launched by India inside Pakistan last month. This includes SkyStriker loitering munitions, Heron and Searcher UAVs, Derby Beyond Visual Range Air to Air Missiles, SPICE 2000 guided bombs, Spike anti-tank guided missiles, Spyder surface-to-air missile system, Barak 8 air defence system, and Negev light machine guns and network radio communication equipment. Several Israeli companies have partnered and formed joint ventures with Indian companies and that will also help keep supplies to India going despite the war. 'A range of high-precision engineering companies in India carrying out contract manufacturing for Israelis is likely to ensure sustenance of Israeli-origin equipment remains unaffected,' an official said. This is in contrast with the impact another major ongoing global conflict—the long-drawn-out Russia-Ukraine war— initially had on Indian military spare supplies and delayed delivery schedule of the S-400 Triumf long-range surface-to-air missile system units. Officials explained this was because many of the big platforms in the Indian military such as fighter aircraft, transport aircraft, warships, air defence systems, and small arms are of soviet origin, requiring huge maintenance support from Russia, compared to the Israeli military hardware India has acquired over the years. The impact was significant even as India had started the maintenance of many Soviet-era military equipment indigenously. Another big factor that affected Russian military supplies to India was that the country was facing the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) in 2017. Russia was subjected to more stringent economic sanctions from the West after the war started. The Indian Air Force used the Israeli SPICE 2000 guided bombs in the Balakot air strikes in February 2019. The Army has procured advanced Heron drones from the country in the last two years to amplify surveillance along the Line of Actual Control amid the military standoff with China. According to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Israel was the world's eighth largest arms exporter in 2020–24, accounting for 3.1 per cent of global arms exports. The single-largest importer of Israeli arms was India at 34 per cent, followed by the US at 13 per cent and the Philippines at 8.1 per cent.
Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Indian Express
All eyes on tomorrow's by-election result in Bengal's Kaliganj; tight security protocol for counting day
The Election Commission (EC) has undertaken a host of measures to ensure a smooth and peaceful counting for the bypoll to the Kaliganj Assembly seat in West Bengal's Nadia district. The counting is slated to commence at 8 am on Monday. According to EC sources, a three-tier security system will be in place at the counting centres: armed police personnel will guard the outermost layer, the second tier will comprise the state police and central forces, and the innermost, third tier will be exclusively manned by central forces. The Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were securely transported to the strong rooms on Thursday, and they are being monitored 24×7 through CCTV cameras. Political parties have been permitted to set up camps within 100 metres of the strong rooms, provided they obtain prior permission from the district magistrate. The counting centre will have 16 tables. One of these tables will be dedicated to the counting of postal ballots. Election Commission officials anticipate a maximum of 20 rounds of counting, with results likely to be declared by 1 pm. Agents of political parties will only be allowed to carry white paper and pens. The counting will begin with postal ballots, followed by EVMs. Mobile phone usage will be restricted to observers and designated metronomic officers. The Kaliganj seat fell vacant in February after the demise of the incumbent TMC MLA, Nasiruddin Ahmed, aged 70. Ahmed, affectionately known as Lal within TMC circles, had secured a significant victory in the 2021 Assembly elections, defeating BJP's Abhijit Ghosh by a margin of 46,987 votes. He had previously won the seat in 2011 but lost to the Congress in 2016. The by-election is a crucial test for both the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), which aims to extend its winning streak after sweeping all six Assembly bypolls last year, and the Opposition parties, particularly the BJP, which are eager to identify vulnerabilities of the TMC ahead of next year's Assembly polls. The BJP, in particular, has been looking to leverage issues like the teachers' protest, Operation Sindoor, and the Pahalgam terror attack to garner support. With counting just hours away, all eyes will be on Kaliganj to see which party emerges victorious and what implications the result holds for West Bengal's political landscape.
