Sri Lanka and Russia Round Off Talks with Focus on Defence Cooperation

Sri Lankan Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd), currently on an official visit to the Russian Federation, held discussions with Russian Deputy Defence Minister Vasily Osmakov in Moscow on the sidelines of the 1st International Forum on Security and the Annual Meeting of High Representatives for Security Issues. The meeting provided an opportunity for both sides to exchange views on evolving regional and global security challenges and to further strengthen bilateral defence relations.

During the discussions, both parties reaffirmed their commitment to continued cooperation in key areas of mutual interest, including military-technical collaboration, capacity-building initiatives, and enhanced training exchanges between the two countries. Matters related to the engagement of former Sri Lankan military personnel currently serving in the Russian Federation were also briefly discussed, alongside broader efforts to deepen long-term defence cooperation.