Bhathiya Barukanda
The Australian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, His Excellency Paul Stephens, paid a courtesy call on the Deputy Minister of Defence, Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd), at his office in Colombo recently (Apr 8).
The Australian envoy was accompanied by the Defence Adviser at the Australian High Commission, Colonel Amanda Johnston. The meeting was held in a cordial and constructive atmosphere, reflecting the longstanding friendship and cooperation between Australia and Sri Lanka.
During the discussion, both parties exchanged views on key matters of mutual interest, particularly in the area of defence and security cooperation. The Deputy Minister expressed his appreciation for Australia’s continued support in strengthening Sri Lanka’s maritime security and defence capabilities.
Highlighting a recent example of this collaboration, Major General Jayasekara acknowledged the significant contribution made by the Australian government through the donation of a state-of-the-art Shallow Water Multi-Beam Echo Sounder to the Sri Lanka Navy Hydrographic Service (SLNHS). He noted that this advanced equipment has brought a transformative enhancement to Sri Lanka’s capacity for surveying harbours, coastal areas and strategic waterways, thereby contributing to both national security and regional maritime stability.
The meeting concluded with both sides reaffirming their commitment to deepening defence ties and exploring new avenues for cooperation in areas such as maritime domain awareness (MDA), training exchanges and capacity-building initiatives.
