Colombo, Sri Lanka, September 9 — Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday reaffirmed India’s commitment to strengthening the capabilities of the Sri Lankan Armed Forces and announced that the two countries will work together to establish an artificial intelligence (AI) laboratory for the Sri Lankan Army.
Speaking at a deck reception aboard INS Udaygiri in Colombo during his three-day visit to Sri Lanka, Singh said India remained committed to supporting Sri Lanka’s defense capabilities and responding to the requirements and priorities of its armed forces.
Singh said capacity building has remained a key pillar of bilateral defense cooperation and emphasized India’s continued efforts to support the Sri Lankan Armed Forces according to their needs and priorities.
He also highlighted the importance of maritime cooperation, saying India and Sri Lanka see scope for closer and deeper engagement in the sector.
Singh said the visit of INS Udaygiri to Sri Lanka symbolized India’s commitment to working closely with its neighboring country. The Indian Navy ship also carried defense equipment and components provided by India under its defense diplomacy initiative.
The assistance includes spares for the Indra Mk-2 radar used by the Sri Lankan Air Force, spares for the Sri Lankan Navy ship SAYURA and inflatable targets for the Sri Lankan Navy.
Earlier in the day, Singh held discussions with Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, following which the two countries concluded three memoranda of understanding in the defense sector.
The agreements cover the upgrading of L-70 guns for the Sri Lankan Air Force, cooperation between the National Cadet Corps of India and Sri Lanka, and cooperation between the National Defence College of India and the National Defence College of Sri Lanka.
Singh’s remarks came during his three-day visit to Sri Lanka, which began Tuesday, as the two countries seek to further strengthen their traditionally close bilateral relationship, with defense and maritime cooperation emerging as key areas of focus. (ANI)
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