Colombo: A representative delegation from the US Institute for Security Governance (ISG) held official meetings with Deputy Minister of Defence Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd) and Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd) on separate occasions recently. Discussions focused on building capacity and military capabilities.
According to Ministry of Defence – Sri Lanka, the ISG delegation met with the Deputy Minister of Defence, Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd), yesterday evening, and with the Defence Secretary, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd), today. These high-level engagements aimed to provide an overview of ISG’s ongoing initiatives while seeking further guidance to enhance future collaboration with Sri Lanka’s military institutions.
Discussions during the meetings covered a wide range of areas, including security governance, defence management, operational planning, resource management, logistics, cybersecurity, human capital oversight, and professional military ed
ucation. The ISG team emphasized the role of special educational and professional development programmes in building and sustaining a comprehensive knowledge base and strengthening the capacities.
Both the Deputy Minister and the Defence Secretary commended the International Support Group (ISG) for its instrumental role in strengthening Sri Lanka’s defence sector, particularly in advancing professionalism, institutional efficiency, and human resource development. They acknowledged the ISG’s valuable insights into Sri Lanka’s defence priorities and decision-making processes, which have established a robust foundation for deeper, long-term partnerships.
The visiting ISG team included Regional Project Lead Michael Charles Rembold and Country Project Coordinator Matt Ashley. They were accompanied by U.S. Embassy officials, including Seth Nevis, Assistant Defence Attaché; Lieutenant Commander Ros Larry, Office of the Defence Cooperation Chief.
The discussion underscored the collaborative efforts between ISG and
Sri Lankan counterparts, fostering trust and mutual understanding.