New Delhi: Aiming to enhance bilateral
defence cooperation and to discuss the regional security
situation, India and Sri Lanka have held the inaugural round
of Annual Defence Dialogue here.
The two sides were on Tuesday represented by the Defence
Secretaries, officers of the armed forces and those from the
Defence Ministry.
"Regional security situation including issues of maritime
security in the Indian Ocean region dominated the inaugural
Annual Defence Dialogue. Issues relating to bilateral defence
interactions also came up for discussion at the meeting,"
Defence Ministry officials said here.
Indian delegation comprising officers of the armed forces
and senior officials from the Ministry was led by Defence
Secretary Shashikant Sharma. Sri Lankan Defence Secretary
Gotabhaya Rajapaksa co-chaired the meeting alongwith with
officials.
The two officers later also called on Defence Minister AK
Antony at his office in the South Block.
India and Sri Lanka share a close defence relationship
with several exchange programmes and exercises.
While some of the officer cadets of Sri Lankan armed
forces are trained in National Defence Academy (NDA) and
Indian Military Academy (IMA), its officers also come to other
military institutions on exchange programmes.
PTI
