India has provided military stores worth 5.5 million US dollars to the Sri Lanka Army on a gratis basis, reaffirming the close defence partnership between the two countries. The assistance, approved by the Ministry of Defence, Government of India, was supplied from the Indian Army’s operational stocks to meet an urgent requirement of the Sri Lankan Army.
The military stores were transported to Colombo onboard Indian Naval Ship Sharda. The formal handover ceremony was attended by Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Santosh Jha, Sri Lankan Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal (Retd.) Sampath Thuyacontha, and Sri Lanka Army Commander Lt. Gen. Lasantha Rodrigo.
Over the past two years, India has approved defence-related projects worth five billion Sri Lankan rupees for Sri Lanka. These initiatives include infrastructure development, the supply of military equipment and training assistance aimed at enhancing the capabilities of the Sri Lankan armed forces.
India had also extended humanitarian assistance to Sri Lanka by deploying a field hospital and an engineering task force during Cyclone Ditwah relief operations.
The assistance reflects India’s Neighbourhood First policy and its continued commitment to promoting regional security, stability and cooperation under the MAHASAGAR vision.
