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03rd May 2023 14:04:27 Hours

INDIAN CHIEF OF THE AIR STAFF CALLS ON THE CDS

The Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force, Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, PVSM, AVSM, VM, ADC, paid a courtesy call on the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Shavendra Silva WWV RWP RSP VSV USP ndc psc MPhil morning, today (02 May 2023). The visiting head of the Indian Air Force and the delegation were warmly welcomed by the CDS at the arrival and recalled the strong bilateral defence ties the two nations share for years.

During the discussions, the CDS gratefully thanked the visiting Indian Air Force Chief for the continued support and assistance extended to the Sri Lanka Air Force over the years. The Senior Officer specifically stressed that repair and maintenance facilities provided were instrumental in maintaining the combat effectiveness of the Sri Lanka Air Force in eradicating the ruthless terrorists from the country. The CDS highlighted that the Drones and Radar Facilities that were presented by India have facilitated to assure the maritime security of the region with new vigour. General Shavendra Silva also spoke of possibilities in broadening the training opportunities and technical knowledge exchange between the two forces.

The Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari also thanked the CDS for the warm reception and continued relations extend by the Sri Lankan Defence sector. He further expressed that the Indian Air Force is looking forward to strengthen the mutually benefitting relations in the future as well.

During the four-day official visit, Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari is also scheduled to make courtesy calls on key defence hierarchies including HE the President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Tokens of mementos were exchanged between the CDS and visiting Indian Air Chief to mark the event and the visiting Air Chief registered the spirit of Sri Lanka-India friendship in ink signing the visitors' book before leaving the OCDS premises.