Navy Commander's 5-day official visit to India
The Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Jayantha Perera and Mrs. Shalika Perera visited India from 26th to 30th October 2014 at an invitation extended by the Chief of the Naval Staff of the Indian Navy Admiral RK Dowan. He commenced his visit having paid his obeisance at the Mahabodhi temple in Bodh Gaya, which is held sacred by Buddhists world over. He also called on the Sri Lankan High Commissioner to India Sudharshan Seneviratne and apprised him of the details of his five-day official visit to India.
The Commander of the Navy was accorded a Guard of Honour at the South Block on arrival and warmly received by the Indian CNS. They held cordial discussions which centered on strengthening the cooperation between the two friendly navies in the key areas of training, operations and maritime domain awareness. The Commander of the Navy also met the Principal Staff Officers of the Indian Navy and viewed a presentation on the Indian Navy and its present activities.
The Commander of the Navy also called on the Indian Minister of Defence Arun Jaitley, Chief of the Army Staff of the Indian Army General Dalbir Singh and the Vice Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force Air Marshal RK Sharma. He held cordial discussions with them on a range of issues of mutual interests and bilateral importance.
The Commander of the Navy paid floral tribute at Amar Jawan Jyoti (the Flame of the Immortal Soldier) at the Indian Gate in New Delhi and placed his signature in the visitors’ book.
During his visit to India, the Commander of the Navy also visited the Indian Navy’s Eastern Naval Command. He was warmly received by the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (East) Vice Admiral Satish Soni onboard the Indian Navy frigate INS Shyadri. He was briefed on the role and functions of the ENC and was presented with a special memento to mark his visit to the Eastern Naval Command. Thereafter he proceeded to the Indian Navy’s Southern Naval Command in Kochi where he was warmly received by the Flag Officer Commander-in-Chief (South) Vice Admiral SPS Cheema.
During his visit to the SNC, the Commander of the Navy visited a number of training schools of the Indian Navy that included the Gunnery School and the Navigation and Direction School. The visit to the Gunnery School, his alma mater, was a memorable event for him being a Gunnery specialist.
During his interaction with Indian Media, the Commander of the Navy had commented on the good cooperation with India, hailing himself as a personal friend. He had stressed Sri Lanka’s non-aligned policy and assured that India’s national security will never be compromised. He had also taken the opportunity to thank India for the whole hearted support to relegate terrorism and stated that Sri Lanka is now on fast track for development reviving its economy with the end of the conflict in the island-nation.(SLN/KH)
