Sri Lankan delegation to discuss defense agreement with India
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
New Delhi, Jan 15, IRNA -- A high level Sri Lankan defense delegation arrived here on Wednesday to discuss a broad bilateral defense agreement between the two countries, local press reported here on Thursday. The delegation headed by Sri Lankan defense secretary, Cyril Herath would hold wide-ranging talks with senior Indian officials today (Thursday) and also call on Indian Defense Minister George Fernandes, according to official sources. 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 three-day official visit of Sri Lankan delegation is seen here as a follow up of initial moves for broad defense agreement mooted by Sri Lankan Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe last October. Besides, the sale of armaments, sources said, Colombo was likely to seek India`s help in restoring some of the major airports in north and northeastern Sri Lanka. 2160/AH/210 End
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