Army Staff Discussions: India and Sri Lanka discuss future course of action

The ninth edition of the Army to Army Staff Talks (AAST) between delegations from the Indian and Sri Lankan armed forces concluded in Pune with a discussion on the intended course of action in the coming years.

A delegation of six Sri Lankan armed forces officers was on a three-day visit to India as part of AAST from February 10 to 12. The first edition of the talks was held back in 2011, and have since focused on defence cooperation, training, joint military exercises and exchanges in other areas between two countries who are neighbours in the strategically significant Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

On February 11, the Sri Lankan delegation visited the Military Institute of Technology (MILIT) and National Defence Academy (NDA). The delegation was briefed on armed forces related technological studies being undertaken at MILIT and also interacted with the Sri Lankan Army student officers attending Defence Services Technical Staff Course course at MILIT.

The visit to NDA was aimed towards enhancing cooperation as part of the ‘Training Exchange Program’ between both countries which has been the strongest and most enduring pillar of India Sri Lanka bilateral defence cooperation.