'Qualitative improvement in Pak-SL ties'

Atapattu BANDARA

The political and military relationship between Pakistan and Sri Lanka has been more tangible and meaningful during last two decades, Pakistan's visiting chairman Joint Chief of Staff Committee General Kahlid Shameem Wynne said.

He was speaking at the inauguration of Pakistan-Sri Lanka National Defence University (NDU)Alumni Association at the Galadari Hotel yesterday.

He said in addition to military and political relationships, the mutual in maintaining interpersonal relationships between the countries has greatly enhanced in recent years.

General Shameem said the NDU Alumni Association has trained senior military leadership in a diversified and comprehensive manner in policy and strategy formulations in both countries.

The NDU, being the Pakistan national think-tank and security policy maker, has contributed a lot with the Sri Lankan military command to ensure high quality and leadership, he added.

Several senior Sri Lankan military officers attended courses at the NDU in Pakistan annually since 1993. Currently the NDU Alumni Association has 26 members. The launch of the association will take the friendly relationships to new heights, he said.

Chief of Defense Staff Air Chief Marshall Roshan Gunathilaka said Sri Lanka's military leadership is closely attached to the Pakistan NDU and they utilized the training and knowledge during the humanitarian operation against terrorism.

Eminent military personalities in Sri Lanka will help draft strategic military policy with the help of NDU, he added.