The second round of the India-Sri Lanka Army to Army Staff Talks (AAST), a novel feature founded last year in New Delhi with the express objective of fostering better relations between both Armies, commenced Tuesday (28) morning at Army Headquarters, Colombo - 3.

The Indian military delegation, comprised of Major General Gurdeep Singh AVSM, Additional Director General, International Cooperation, Brigadier Harsha Guptha, Deputy Director General Military Operations, Colonel Gagan Deep, Director-C, Defence Cooperation Division and Colonel Vivek Tyagi, Director Military Training (MT16) of the Indian Army, attend AAST representing the Indian Army.

The Sri Lankan AAST team, led by Major General H.C.P Goonetilleke, Military Secretary includes several Directors and Senior Officers of relevant areas of discussion.  

At the commencement of the session, the follow-up matters, arising from previous minutes, were taken up for discussion after a warm welcome was extended to the Indian delegation by Head of Sri Lanka Army delegation, Major General H.C.P Goonetilleke.

Issues, emanating from presentations, forwarded by Director Training, Director Rehabilitation and Director Plans in the Army and other contributory remarks to the session, were then pursued for deliberations during the second half of the AAST.   

On the final day of the AAST, both Heads of Delegation are expected to sign the final minutes as an endorsement of the mutual agreement for implementation of the conclusions in the three-day deliberations.

The Indian delegation during their stay in Sri Lanka is expected to visit several places of tourist interest in the country.