Colombo: The Chief of General Staff of the Pakistan Army, Lieutenant General Syed Aamer Raza, conducted an official visit to Sri Lanka, where he engaged in discussions with key figures in the Sri Lankan defence leadership. During his visit, Lieutenant General Raza met with the Deputy Minister of Defence, Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd), and the Defence Secretary, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd). These meetings focused on strengthening defence relations between the two nations.

According to Ministry of Defence – Sri Lanka, Lieutenant General Raza was accompanied by Colonel Muhammad Farooq, the Defence Advisor to the High Commission of Pakistan in Sri Lanka, during these engagements. The meeting with the Deputy Minister of Defence was marked by a cordial dialogue, centering on enhancing bilateral defence cooperation. The discussions included topics such as capacity building and exchanging best practices, with an emphasis on improving preparedness and resilience for natural disaster response.

Major General Jayasekara (Retd) highlighted Pakistan’s ongoing support through military training opportunities for Sri Lankan personnel, which have significantly contributed to professional development and regional collaboration. He referenced the recent Sri Lanka-Pakistan Bilateral Defence Dialogue held in Islamabad, underscoring its role in strengthening partnerships across various defence sectors.

In a separate meeting with the Defence Secretary, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd), Lieutenant General Raza reiterated the importance of strategic cooperation. Both sides expressed a mutual commitment to deepening defence ties, with the Defence Secretary appreciating the continued collaboration between the defence establishments of Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

These high-level engagements emphasized a shared vision to enhance mutual understanding, capacity building, and regional security between Sri Lanka and Pakistan.