15th August 2025 20:28:08 Hours
The Sri Lanka School of Military Engineering (SLSME) had the honour of hosting Colonel Amanda Johnston, Defence Advisor to the Australian High Commission in Sri Lanka, along with Assistant Defence Advisor Major Chris Fowler, during an official visit that marked a significant milestone in bilateral defence relations.
This visit represented the first occasion on which an Australian defence delegation engaged directly with SLSME, underscoring the growing partnership between the two nations in the field of military engineering.
During their time at SLSME, the delegation was warmly welcomed by Colonel JACS Jagoda psc, Commandant of the School. Colonel Chamika Jagoda conducted a comprehensive briefing to familiarize the visitors with the overview of SLSME, including the diverse range of training programs delivered.
The briefing highlighted a detailed comparison of combat engineering roles within Sri Lanka and Australia, emphasizing both shared practices and unique operational requirements in each country. A special proposal was presented advocating reciprocal training exchanges, whereby Sri Lankan Sappers would have the opportunity to train in Australia, and Australian Sappers would receive training in Sri Lanka, fostering enhanced skills and mutual understanding.
Australian delegation was mainly interested in Sri Lanka’s use of ‘F3 Mine Lab’ detectors, a critical asset in humanitarian demining efforts, which prompted in-depth discussions on operational techniques and collaboration opportunities.
The visit concluded on a high note with Colonel Amanda Johnston presenting a commemorative memento to Colonel Chamika Jagoda, symbolizing appreciation and the commitment to strengthening defence cooperation between Sri Lanka and Australia.
This landmark visit paves the way for future collaboration and reflects the shared dedication of both nations to advancing military engineering capabilities and humanitarian operations
