12th December 2019 20:03:54 Hours
A Russian Army delegation headed by Chief of Engineering Troops of Russian Armed Forces Lieutenant General Iurri Stavitskii reached Sri Lanka on 10 December 2019. As a result of bilateral military cooperation developed through Military Cooperation Agreement signed in 2018, the delegation reached Sri Lanka to experience the contribution made by Sri Lanka Army on mine action process through the Sri Lanka Army Humanitarian Unit (SLA HDU).
The head of the delegation Lieutenant General Stavitskii is an honored military specialist of the Russian Federation who was graduated by Tiumen High Military Engineering Command College in 1982. He is expert in demining operations which are furnished with the combat operations in Afghanistan, Syria and Northern Caucasia. Also the delegation comprised with Colonel Sergey L. Bobrikov - the Chief Divisional Officer Administration of the Chief of Engineering Corps, Colonel Alexandre A. Malkov - Commander of Sapper Engineer Brigade and Colonel Viadimir O. Malkuta – Head of Filed Test Range of the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation.
As the main event of literary, the delegation visited Regimental Centre of Corps of Sri Lanka Engineers on 12 December. The delegation was ceremonially welcomed and received by Chief Field Engineer, Major General HRKP Peiris VSV USP ndu. Since on-ground field visits are disturbed by prevailing weather condition, the delegation was briefed on Sri Lankan Mine Action process by Commander Engineer Brigade, Brigadier AN Amarasekara USP ndu at Regimental Convention Hall and followed by a demonstration on manual, mechanical and MDD mine clearance arranged by 10 Field Engineer Regiment. The Colonel Commandant of Corps of Sri Lanka Engineers Major General HJS Gunawardana RSP VSV USP ndc psc hosted a lunch for the delegation.
A delegation consisted with three officers and two other ranks who engage with demining operations in Sri Lanka visited Russia in last June. The Russian delegation paid a reciprocal visit to understand operational level functions of SLA HDU. The officials of Russian delegation appreciated demining operation carry out by SLA HDU while extending their good wishes to officers and Other Ranks engage with highly risked mine action activities in Sri Lanka. Officers of both armies are in mutual understanding to provide military contribution to the nation through the humanitarian engagements such as mine actions.
The Colonel Commandant of Corps of Sri Lanka Engineers, Major General HJS Gunawardana RSP VSV USP ndc psc, The Chief Field Engineer, Commander Engineer Brigade, Centre Commandant SLE and Staff Officers of Engineer Brigade and Regiment Centre were attended with parallel events.
