Islamabad: The 5th annual Sri Lanka-Pakistan Bilateral Defence Dialogue commenced on Monday in Islamabad, Pakistan, marking a continued commitment to strengthening defence cooperation between the two nations.

According to Ministry of Defence – Sri Lanka, the Sri Lankan delegation is led by Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd), accompanied by Commander of the Navy Vice Admiral Kanchana Banagoda and Additional Secretary (Defence) of the Ministry of Defence Mr. Jayantha Edirisinghe. The Pakistani delegation is headed by Lieutenant General Muhammad Ali (Retd), Secretary Defence of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

In conjunction with the ongoing defence dialogue, Air Vice Marshal Thuyacontha (Retd) held a side-line meeting today with the Hon. Defence Minister of Pakistan, Khawaja Muhammad Asif.

These high-level engagements aim to enhance bilateral cooperation, foster mutual understanding on regional security dynamics, and explore opportunities for defence collaboration. Both nations share a longstanding relationship rooted in mutual respect and strategic cooperation. The dialogue reflects the growing importance of partnerships in maintaining stability and promoting peace in the South Asian region.

The three-day dialogue, which concludes on Wednesday, is expected to reinforce bilateral defence ties and contribute to broader regional security objectives.