Sri Lanka ready to train PLA

Army Commander Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya and People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Deputy Chief of General Staff General Ma Xiaotian explored opportunities that could be made available to PLA trainees in Sri Lanka’s various post-war training exercises.

Possibilities for further expansion of other academic and professional programmes between the two military organisations were also discussed.

Lieutenant General Jayasuriya arrived in Beijing on Wednesday at the invitation of the PLA of the People’s Republic of China. He later paid a courtesy call on General Ma Xiaotian at the PLA General Headquarters. The Sri Lankan delegation, headed by Lieutenant General Jayasuriya comprised of General Officer Commanding, 11 Division Brigadier K Gunawardena, Commandant, Sri Lanka Military Academy, Brigadier P W B Jayasundera, two officers and Seva Vanitha Army Branch President Manjulika Jayasuriya,

The Sri Lankan Army Chief was received by senior PLA officers at the Beijing Airport together with the ambassador for Sri Lanka.

The Army Chief was accorded a Guard of Honour at the PLA Headquarters. The PLA attaches significance to Lieutenant General Jayasuriya’s six-day stay in the People’s Republic of China as he was one of the best products of the PLA’s National Defence University (NDU).

The cordial discussions between Lieutenant General Jayasuriya and General Ma Xiaotian lasted more than an hour and centred on military matters of mutual and bilateral interest. Lieutenant General Jayasuriya, recalled with gratitude the PLA’s timely contribution to Sri Lanka’s efforts in wiping out terrorism. He thanked the PLA for its accommodation of Sri Lankan officers for defence studies and training in China’s defence academies throughout the year. General Ma Xiaotian presented a memento to Lieutenant General Jayasuriya.