SRI LANKAN DELEGATION CULTIVATES MUTUAL DEFENCE RELATIONS DURING 9TH ANNUAL ARMY TO ARMY STAFF (AAST) TALKS

Sri Lanka Army delegation led by Major General Harendra Ranasinghe RWP RSP ndc, Commander, 1 Corps attended the 9th Annual Army to Army Staff Talks (AAST) between the Indian Army and Sri Lankan Army in Pune from 10 to 12 February 2022. The talks were focused on further strengthening defence cooperation and engagements including training and exchanges in the fields of sports and culture.

The first edition of the talks was held back in 2011, and later these annual talks alternately held in India and Sri Lanka. Other members of the delegation were Major General Sujeewa Senerathyapa RWP RSP ndu, Commander, Security Forces-Jaffna, Major General Ajith Kolombathantri RWP RSP USP psc IG, Military Secretary, Brigadier Kapila Dolage USP psc, Director Training and Brigadier Sajith Liyanage USP psc, Commander Signal Brigade.

Major General Anil Kumar Kashid, ADGRC Co-Chairman, Major General Anoop Jakhar, General Officer Commanding, Artillery Division, Brigadier Gaurav Gautam, Brigadier Infantry, Colonel I. P Singh, Colonel Foreign Training and Colonel H Bharatnagar, Colonel Defence & Co-secretary represented the Indian Army during the 9th AAST in Pune.

During the visit the Sri Lankan team also visited the Indian Army's Military Institute of Technology, National Defence Academy and the College of Military Engineering.