Navy chief's visit to India strengthens defence ties

by Ranil WIJAYAPALA

The mutual relations between the Navies of Sri Lanka and India have been further strengthened with the eight day official visit of Navy Commander Vice Admiral Thisara Samarasinghe to India as his visit paves the way for exchange of views with top Indian dignitaries to enhance defence cooperation between the two countries, Navy Spokesman Commander Athula Senerath told the Sunday Observer.

Navy Commander Vice Admiral Thisara Samarasinghe on an invitation extended to him by Chief of the Naval Staff of the Indian Navy, Admiral Nirmal Verma, had an eight day visit to India commencing from October 19.

A statement issued by the Indian Ministry of Defence said, "The visit of the Commander of Sri Lanka Navy is aimed at enhancing the existing cooperation in the field of Defence, with particular focus on Navy-to-Navy cooperation." "Bilateral cooperation between the two Navies is presently at an all time high as Sri Lanka holds an important position in India's strategic perception," said the Indian Defence Ministry release issued to the media during Vice Admiral Samarasinghe's visit.

The Commanders's participation at the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the National Defence College (NDC) of India, held on October 21 and 22, 2010 at the invitation of Commandant of the NDC Lieutenant General Prakash Menon was also one of the highlights during his visit to India.

Admiral Samarasinghe is a distinguished alumnus of the National Defence College, India's top defence institute where he followed its 45th Course in the Year 2005. The NDC Golden Jubilee celebrations were presided over by King of Bhutan, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk, who was Admiral Samarasinghe's batch mate at the NDC.

President of India Pratibha Patil, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and a host of other dignitaries also graced the occasion.

Vice Admiral Samrasinghe also observed a fleet exercise in the Indian Navy's Eastern Naval Command at Vishakapattnam and visited Indian Navy's Southern Naval Command in Kochi and inspected the progress of the refit of Sri Lanka Navy's Offshore Patrol Vessel, SLNS Sagara, at Garden Reach Shipyard in Kolkata.