Further boost for ties as Indian Coast Guard DG visits Lanka

Indian Coast Guard Director General Vice Admiral Anurag G Thapliyal arrived in Sri Lanka on June 9 on a five day official visit on the invitation of Sri Lanka Coast Guard Director Rear Admiral Ravi Wijegunaratne.

The Indian Coast Guard Director General was accorded a Guard of Honour on arrival at the Sri Lanka Coast Guard Rear Headquarters and welcomed by Rear Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne.

They held cordial discussions on topics of mutual interest. Mementos were also exchanged.

Vice Admiral Thapliyal visited the IPKF War Memorial at Battaramulla on Monday and paid floral tributes.

He also called on Defence and Urban Development Ministry Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, the Chief of Defence Staff and the Navy Commander.

Vice Admiral Thapliyal also visited Naval establishments in Kankesanthurai, Thalaimannar and the Coast Guard Training Centre at Mirissa.

Vice Admiral Thapliyal, a specialist in Navigation and Aircraft Direction has held various operational and staff appointments, both, afloat and ashore.

He has commanded the ASW patrol vessel Ajay, missile corvette Khukri, stealth frigate Tabar and the indigenous destroyer Mysore.

Vice Admiral Thapliyal has also commissioned INS Cheetah (as Navigating Officer) in Poland and INS Ajay and Tabar as Commanding Officer, both, in Russia.

The Flag Officer has also been the Fleet Operations Officer, Eastern Fleet at Visakhapatnam. On promotion to the rank of Rear Admiral, he took over as Chief of Staff, Headquarters, Eastern Naval Command, and later served as ACNS (Information Warfare & Operations) at IHQ MoD (Navy) and Fleet Commander, Eastern Fleet.

Vice Admiral AG Thapliyal took over his current assignment as Director General Indian Coast Guard in February this year.