Navy Commander on five-day visit to India

By Ranil Wijayapala

Navy Commander Vice Admiral Jayantha Perera left the country on a five-day official visit to India yesterday on an invitation extended by Indian Navy Chief Admiral Robin Dhowan, Navy media spokesman Commander Kosala Warnakulasuriya told the Sunday Observer.

He said the Navy Chief's Indian visit will basically focused on strengthening the existing relations between the Navies of two countries. The Navy Commanders visit comes at a time Sri Lanka and India is having fresh discussions on strengthening the bilateral relations between the two countries.

Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa also had a meeting with the Indian Defense Minister Arun Jaitley on October 20.

The ex-Navy Chief of India Admiral D K Joshi participated at the Galle Dialogue, the international maritime security conference in December 2013.

The Navy Spokesman said during the five days visit Sri Lanka Navy Chief Vice Admiral Jayantha Perera is expected to meet his counterpart Admiral Robin Dhowan and other Navy officials to discuss the ways of strengthening relationship between the two Navies and how the two Navies can cooperate each other in their operations and training.

He said the Commander will visit Delhi and Kochin during his five days visit. Asked whether the poaching issue is slated to discuss between the two Navy Chiefs the spokesman said the poaching issue is not there in the agenda for discussion.

Although some Tamil Nadu politicians have protested over Sri Lanka Navy Commander's visit to India, the Navy Commander will continue his tour as scheduled, the spokesman added.