India and Sri Lanka Deepen Defence Ties in High-Level Colombo Talks

In a significant diplomatic engagement, India’s Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh met with Sri Lanka’s Deputy Minister of Defence, Major General Aruna Jayasekara, and Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd) in Colombo on June 5.

Accompanied by Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha, Singh led a high-level delegation to discuss key areas of bilateral defence cooperation.

Talks centred around:

Enhancing military-to-military exchanges

Expanding joint training and capacity building

Strengthening disaster response and humanitarian collaboration

Boosting maritime security and counter-terrorism coordination

Sri Lankan officials expressed deep appreciation for India’s longstanding support, particularly during past crises. Defence Secretary Thuyacontha emphasized the value of Indian cooperation in enhancing Sri Lanka’s defence capabilities.

Secretary Singh reaffirmed India’s commitment to regional peace and stability and highlighted the importance of strengthening the India–Sri Lanka partnership.

Both sides agreed to maintain regular high-level engagements and explore new avenues for collaboration in defence and security matters.