India, Sri Lanka hold Defence Dialogue
Aiming to enhance bilateral defence cooperation and to discuss the
regional security situation, India and Sri Lanka have held the inaugural
round of Annual Defence Dialogue in India.
The two sides were represented by the Defence Secretaries, officers
of the armed forces and those from the Defence Ministry.
"Regional security situation including issues of maritime security in
the Indian Ocean region dominated the inaugural Annual Defence Dialogue.
Issues relating to bilateral defence interactions also came up for
discussion at the meeting," Indian Defence Ministry officials said.
Indian delegation comprising officers of the armed forces and senior
officials from the Ministry was led by Defence Secretary Shashikant
Sharma.
Sri Lankan Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa co-chaired the
meeting along with with officials.
The two officers later also called on Defence Minister AK Antony at
his office in the South Block. India and Sri Lanka share a close defence
relationship with several exchange programmes and exercises. While some
of the officer cadets of Sri Lankan armed forces are trained in National
Defence Academy (NDA) and Indian Military Academy (IMA), its officers
also come to other military institutions on exchange programmes, PTI
reports.
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