A Decisive Consultation Reflecting Collective Resolve
Sri Lanka and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have reaffirmed and strengthened their defence partnership during high-level discussions in Riyadh. The meeting brought together Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd.), Deputy Minister of Defence of Sri Lanka, and Dr. Nasser bin Abdulaziz Al-Dawood, Deputy Minister of the National Guard of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, on the sidelines of the World Defence Show (WDS) 2026, a premier global defence exposition.
The discussions underscored the longstanding friendly relations between the two nations and highlighted their shared commitment to enhancing regional security. Key areas of focus included:
- Maritime security: addressing threats from drug trafficking, smuggling, and other transnational criminal activities.
- Strategic alignment: reviewing contemporary defence strategies, emerging defence trends, and evolving regional and global security dynamics.
- Institutional cooperation: planning future structured Defence Talks, Staff Talks, capacity-building programs, and professional military training exchanges.
The meeting was a decisive consultation reflecting collective resolve, demonstrating both nations’ unity, strategic clarity, and shared determination. It signaled a strengthened bilateral partnership, anchored in mutual trust and aimed at promoting regional stability and long-term defence collaboration.
