160 defence officials along with families reached Colombo today

A group of 160 defence officers and their families reached Colombo while same number of Sri Lankan officers and their families left for India today on a familiarization visit under defence exchange programme.

The officers along with families reached Colombo on Saturday through an air force flight which will bring the Sri Lankan contingent to BODH GAYA.

The visit is part of high level defence cooperation between the two neighbours and also to show solidarity with Sri Lanka after Easter Sunday attacks. It comes soon after Prime Minister Narendra Modi visit to Sri Lanka on Sunday where he paid respects to the victims of Easter attacks.

This is the first time a defence contingent along with families from India are visiting abroad as part of exchange programme. Earlier, a contingent of Sri Lankan defence forces had visited Bodh Gaya last year for the first time. Indian High commissioner to Sri Lanka Taranjit Singh Sandhu said the visit highlights that Sri Lanka is getting back to normalcy as the officers will visit different parts of the island country.

Sri Lankan army chief Lt. Gen. Mahesh Senanayake said the visit will further boost understanding among defence forces at the senior as well as lower levels. He said such exchanges benefit both sides and is a model to other countries for cooperation in defence sector.