SRI LANKA-JAPAN DEFENCE ENGAGEMENTS STRENGTHENED THROUGH HIGH-LEVEL MEETINGS AND NAVAL VISIT

Colombo, Sri Lanka, March 19 -- Ministry of Defence and Urban Development issued the following news release:

The Sri Lankan defence delegation, led by Deputy Minister of Defence Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd), currently in Japan for the Japan-Sri Lanka Defence Dialogue, concluded key engagements on 18 March, further enhancing bilateral defence cooperation.

The delegation visited the National Institute for Defence Studies (NIDS), located within the Ministry of Defence compound in Tokyo's Ichigaya district. NIDS conducts research and educational activities related to security, strategic, and defence affairs, supported by its in-house staff of experts. The institute carries out extensive research and publishes its findings in both English and Japanese across a variety of platforms. During the visit, the Sri Lankan delegation met with the President of NIDS, Mr. IMAKYUREI Manabu. The delegation received a comprehensive briefing on the history and role of the Institute, as well as an overview of Japan's evolving security environment. The briefing was followed by an engaging discussion between both sides. The Hon. State Minister of Defence MIYAZAKI Masahisa and other high-level officials were also present at the occasion.

As part of the program, the delegation also visited the Japanese naval ship JS Maya (DDG-179). The visit was attended by the Hon. State Minister of Defence, Commander Fleet Escort Force Vice Admiral GOKA Yoshihiro, and the Sri Lankan Ambassador to Japan.

Discussions during the ship visit covered enhancing naval cooperation, including port calls to Colombo, Official Security Assistance (OSA) collaboration, and sharing Sri Lanka's experience in asymmetric naval warfare, alongside broader maritime security cooperation.

The Deputy Minister of Defence of Sri Lanka extended an invitation to the Japanese State Minister of Defence and the Chief of Staff, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) to visit Sri Lanka, further reinforcing the growing defence partnership between the two nations.

Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.