Reviewed entire gamut of bilateral ties with Sri Lankan leadership, MoUs signed to boost defence cooperation: Rajnath

Defence minister Rajnath Singh, while concluding his three-day visit to Sri Lanka on Thursday, said that he has held “comprehensive discussions with the Sri Lankan leadership, reviewing the entire gamut of the bilateral partnership” and signed several MoUs to boost defence cooperation.Giving details of the agreements, Rajnath posted on X said on Thursday, “MoUs were exchanged on upgradation of L70 guns for Sri Lankan Air Force; as well as on academic cooperation between National Defence Colleges and National Cadet Corps. Three Bailey bridges built in Kurunegala and Batticaloa by an Indian Army Engineers team under the $450 million post-Ditwah rehabilitation were virtually inaugurated.”Rajnath earlier also attended a deck reception organised onboard Indian warship INS Udaygiri at the Colombo port during his visit. During the event, Indian authorities handed over spares for Indra MK 2 –radar to Sri Lankan Air Force, spares for SLN Ship Sayura and inflatable targets to Sri Lankan officials. “This equipment will help in further boosting the capability and capacity of the Sri Lankan Armed Forces,” he said.Rajnath, who on Wednesday called on Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and also held discussions with Sri Lankan PM Harini Amarasuriya, said, “My visit to Sri Lanka has added further impetus to the dynamic and multi-faceted ties between India-Sri Lanka, spanning all sectors of the bilateral cooperation. I am confident India-Sri Lanka friendship will scale newer heights in the times to come.”The defence minister also visited the Seetha Amman Temple, also known as Ashok Vatika Sita temple, located in Nuwara Eliya district of Sri Lanka, and said he was “delighted to interact with the Sri Lankan cricketing legends — Aravinda De Silva, Sanath Jayasuriya and Chaminda Vaas — in Colombo”.