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NEW DELHI: India and Sri Lanka plan to further enhance their defence cooperation and military interoperability across their armed forces, with Navy chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi having wide-ranging discussions with Sri Lankan PM Harini Amarasuriya in Colombo on Tuesday.Officials said Admiral Tripathi and PM Amarasuriya also focused on the enduring bilateral partnership in the maritime domain, reaffirming their commitment to step-up operational engagements, capacity-building initiatives and participation in multilateral forums such as the International Fleet Review, Milan exercise and the Admiral’s Cup Regatta.Underlining the strategic importance of oceans for maritime nations, the PM stressed the need for collective efforts to safeguard this shared resource. She highlighted the potential for deeper collaboration in addressing transnational challenges like anti-narcotics operations, IUU (illegal, unreported and unregulated) fishing, marine pollution and terrorism at sea.“The PM also called for closer coordination in search and rescue missions and information sharing, acknowledging the need for bolstering training ties between the Sri Lankan Navy and the Indian Navy,” an official said. “The meeting reflected the shared vision of both nations to promote peace, stability, and sustainable development in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) through mutual trust and cooperation,” he added.The key areas in Admiral Tripathi’s discussions with deputy defence minister Major General KP Aruna Jayasekera (retd) and top military officials included advancing naval collaboration, strengthening maritime security, and exploring avenues for joint training and operational synergy.“These engagements reaffirmed India’s steadfast commitment to strengthening military-to-military ties, promoting capacity building, and fostering greater coordination in the IOR,” Navy spokesperson Captain Vivek Madhwal said.Addressing participants at the National Defence College in Colombo, Admiral Tripathi highlighted the historical, cultural, and strategic linkages between India and Sri Lanka in the IOR. Citing successful joint operations in anti-piracy missions and narcotics interdictions as models of Indo-Sri Lankan naval synergy, he reaffirmed India’s enduring commitment to a safe, secure, and prosperous IOR.
