New Delhi, Jan 12: A high level Sri Lankan Defence delegation arrives here on Wednesday to discuss a broad bilateral defence agreement between the two countries. The delegation headed by Defence Secretary Cyril Herath would be here for three days and would hold wide ranging talks with senior Indian Defence Ministry officials and may also call on Defence Minister George Fernandes, according to official sources here. Though Sri Lanka and India already have a bilateral agreement on intelligence sharing, training of armed forces personnel and supply of life saving equipment, Colombo wants the cooperation to be broadened to include sale of non offensive weapons systems by New Delhi. The Sri Lankans are interested in buying helicopters, small transport aircraft and smaller naval vessels for their fledgling navy. The visit of the Sri Lankan delegation is seen here as a follow up of initial moves for a broad defence agreement mooted by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremsinghe last October. Besides the sale of armaments, highly placed sources said the island nation was likely to seek India's help in restoring some of the major airports in north and northeastern Sri Lanka.

Bureau Report