India donates defence and medical equipment worth 5 million dollars

The Indian government donated a stock of defence and medical equipment valued at five million US dollars to further strengthen the long-standing friendship and defence cooperation between Sri Lanka and India, the Sri Lanka Army stated. High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka Santosh Jha officially handed over the stock of equipment, provided as a special assistance from the Indian government, to Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retired) at the Army Headquarters in Akuregoda.

Commander of the Sri Lanka Army Lieutenant General Lasantha Rodrigo also participated in the occasion. Addressing the gathering, High Commissioner of India Santosh Jha noted that this donation represents another unique outcome of the strong and long-standing relationship between the armed forces of the two nations. He pointed out that defence cooperation between the two countries expanded beyond training opportunities and humanitarian aid to encompass defence capability enhancement, infrastructure development, and the supply of military equipment.

The High Commissioner also recalled the prompt humanitarian assistance provided by India to Sri Lanka when affected by Cyclone 'Ditwah' under Operation "Sagar Bandhu", praising how search and rescue operations, medical aid, and infrastructure reconstruction activities coordinated closely with the Sri Lankan armed forces. Defence Secretary Sampath Thuyacontha expressed his gratitude to the Indian government on behalf of the President and the Ministry of Defence. The Defence Secretary emphasized on this occasion that India continuously supported Sri Lanka as a reliable partner in challenging times regarding natural disasters, economic recovery processes, capability development, and defence cooperation. Numerous senior officials representing the Ministry of Defence, the Sri Lanka Army, and the High Commission of India in Sri Lanka attended the official equipment handing over ceremony.