• Friday, March 29, 2024

News

India Army chief inaugurates simulators gifted to Sri Lanka Army

Indian Army chief General MM Naravane with Sri Lankan president Gotabaya Rajapaksa in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Wednesday, October 13, 2021. (ANI Photo)

By: Shubham Ghosh

INDIAN Army chief General MM Naravane on Thursday (14) inaugurated in Colombo two stimulator facilities gifted to Sri Lanka by India for enhancing capacity-building of the island-nation’s army and to bolster defence cooperation between the two maritime neighbours.

Naravane, who arrived in the Sri Lankan capital on Tuesday (12) on a four-day visit at the invitation of his counterpart from the island-nation Gen Shavendra Silva, also attended the Gajaba Day celebrations at the Gajaba Regimental Centre.

“Gift from a friend!! Gen MM Naravane inaugurated two simulator facilities which have been gifted by #India towards enhancing capacity building of #Lka Army,” the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka tweeted.

India Army chief inaugurates simulators gifted to Sri Lanka Army
Indian Army chief General MM Naravane inaugurates a universal driving simulator and infantry training weapon simulator that India gave to the Sri Lankan Army during his visit to Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Thursday, October 14, 2021. (ANI Photo)

“Gen @SilvaShavendra thanked #COAS and #IndianArmy for the simulators. #IndiaSriLankaFriendship,” it added.

In a separate tweet, the Indian Army said Naravane visited Army Service Corps School and presented Universal Driving Simulator and Infantry Training Weapon Simulator to the Sri Lankan Army to further bolster the country’s defence cooperation with India.

“General MM Naravane #COAS attended the Gajaba Day Celebrations at The Gajaba Regimental Centre, #SriLanka. During the event, #COAS received an impressive Guard of Honour & also planted a tree to commemorate the friendship between the two Armies,” it said in another tweet.

Naravane, who was the chief guest at the Gajaba Day celebrations, reviewed the parade and interacted with the troops of the regiment. He also attended the felicitation ceremony held to commemorate jointmanship between Gorkha and Gajaba Regiments and Sikh Light Infantry and Sri Lanka Light Infantry during Indian Peace Keeping Force deployment, the high commission said.

In a statement, the Sri Lankan Army said that Naravane was also invited to plant an ironwood (Naa) sapling. The visiting Indian Army chief was presented a special memento in order to immortalize the memories of his visit to the GR Regimental HQ.

On Wednesday (13), Gen Naravane met Sri Lanka’s top civilian and military leadership and discussed ways for enhancing the defence cooperation between the two neighbouring countries. He called on Lankan president Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who is the commander-in-chief of the Sri Lankan Armed Forces, and prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and discussed with them mutual and strategic cooperation.

The Indian Army chief also laid a wreath at Indian Peace Keeping Force War Memorial and paid tributes to those Indian soldiers who laid down their lives during the military operation in Sri Lanka between 1987 and 1990.

He also spoke with the veterans of the Sri Lankan Army.

Related Stories

Loading