India and Sri Lanka are scheduled to sign three key bilateral agreements tomorrow (September 9) during the ongoing official visit of Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to Sri Lanka, Minister Vijitha Herath said.
Speaking at the Cabinet decisions press briefing today (September 8), Herath said the agreements are aimed at further strengthening bilateral relations, expanding youth cadet exchanges and enhancing cooperation in the defence sector.
One of the agreements will be a Memorandum of Understanding between the National Cadet Corps (NCC) of Sri Lanka and India. It will facilitate mutual training programmes, exchanges and joint activities involving cadets from the two countries.
A second agreement will establish greater cooperation between Sri Lanka’s National Defence College and India’s Defence Services Staff College, focusing on knowledge sharing, exchange programmes and collaboration between instructors.
The third agreement concerns the maintenance of 40mm L70 anti-aircraft guns previously gifted to the Sri Lanka Air Force by India between 2000 and 2006. Under the agreement, the Indian Government will provide free maintenance for the remaining six guns out of the 24 supplied. The other 18 have already undergone maintenance under previous agreements.
Rajnath Singh arrived in Sri Lanka today and is scheduled to meet members of the Indian community this afternoon.
Tomorrow, the Indian Defence Minister is expected to hold bilateral discussions with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, meet senior officials of the Ministry of Defence and hold talks with Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya. He is also scheduled to attend a religious observance at the Gangaramaya Temple.
On September 10, Singh is scheduled to visit the Seetha Amman Temple in Nuwara Eliya before concluding his official visit.
Minister Herath said the visit is intended to further strengthen the longstanding diplomatic and strategic partnership between Sri Lanka and India.
