Consolidating Strategic Bonds and Advancing Regional Resilience

The Chief of the Army Staff of the Indian Army, General Upendra Dwivedi, paid a courtesy call on Deputy Minister of Defence, Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd) in Colombo on 7 January, commencing a consequential two-day official visit to Sri Lanka. During cordial and forward-looking deliberations, both leaders reaffirmed the historical, cultural, and civilizational bonds connecting the two nations and expressed appreciation for India’s swift, multifaceted assistance in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah, which significantly buttressed relief and reconstruction operations.

The discussions also branched into strategic and operational cooperation, covering maritime security, joint training, advanced technology, and knowledge sharing, highlighting the shared commitment to regional stability, resilience, and security. General Dwivedi further underscored the importance of fostering people-to-people engagement across all leadership tiers to anchor trust, transparency, and enduring partnership, consolidating India and Sri Lanka’s defence collaboration and humanitarian coordination. Senior officials from the Indian Army, the Defence Adviser, and the High Commission of India were also present.