India’s Army Chief on five-day visit

by Rukshana Rizwie

Indian Army Chief General Dalbir Singh will kick-off a five-day official visit to Sri Lanka starting today to upgrade the fleet of warplanes, tanks and defence guns, a move described by anlaysts as an attempt by New Delhi to curb China’s growing influence on Sri Lanka.

India in the past has been reluctant to meet Sri Lanka’s requests to supply defence equipment or military needs primarily due to Tamil Nadu politics.

The Hindustan Times quoted a Defence Ministry source as saying that “broadening military cooperation was under active consideration.”

If Colombo’s request to upgrade and overhaul its defence equipment goes through, it would mark a sharp turnaround in India’s policy to not supply military hardware to its southern neighbour because of domestic political compulsions, the publication said.

The Indian Army Chief is expected to tour Jaffna where he was once posted as part of the Peace Keeping Force Operation in 1987. He is also expected to visit the IPKF war memorial at Sri Jayewardenepura, Kotte.