Just two hours after General Bikram Singh PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, ADC, Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army set foot on the Sri Lankan soil as a distinguished guest of the Sri Lanka Army, he went directly to the Army Headquarters Wednesday (19) evening in order to meet his Sri Lankan counterpart, Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya, Commander of the Army for formal talks.
The visiting Indian Army Chief upon arrival at the Army Headquarters main entrance was formally received in a colourful Guard of Honour, accorded on his behalf by Gemunu Watch (GW) troops.
Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya, Commander of the Army, meanwhile awaiting the visiting Chief Guest’s entry into the premises at the main porch at the Commander’s Secretariat afterwards cordially welcomed his Indian counterpart as the clock struck precisely 4.30 p.m. on Wednesday (19). Before he was ushered to his office for formal talks, General Bikram Singh was introduced to the Principal Staff Officers of the Army Headquarters by the Commander of the Army.
Cordial discussions that ensued afterwards between both Army Chiefs at Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya’s office centered largely on further expansion of the newly-established Diyatalawa Army Training Command (ARTRAC) with Indian support at different levels. ARTRAC, mandated to closely monitor, supervise, assess and coordinate all Army training institutes and their training programmes, including those at regimental levels, saw its birth a few months ago as a novel concept of the Commander of the Army.
Exchange of cordial views explored possibilities of launching one-to-one correspondence between service regiments of the Army and those of the Indian Army as measures to further broaden the spectrum of military interests, benefiting both wings.
The visiting Indian Army Chief in response to a request of the Sri Lankan counterpart, pledged to provide a few horses to the Diyatalawa Sri Lanka Military Academy (SLMA) for training purposes and all possible assistance to further improvement of training slots to Sri Lanka Army in various training programmes.
Giving another dimension to the concerns on further expansion of welfare facilities, Lieutenant General Jayasuriya, showed a keen interest on learning more about duty free outlets, reserved exclusively for Indian military personnel from the visiting Indian Army Chief during discussions. The visiting Indian Army Chief explained to the Sri Lankan Army Chief how such outlets had so far worked well in his country, affording a sense of relief to Indian soldiers returning home from overseas trips. He assured further information and assistance in this direction.
Another area of interest that sprang during those bilateral talks focused on exchange of sports programmes and conduct of tournaments between both armies every year.
Sri Lanka Army’s novel approach towards the promotion of English language skills among its personnel was to receive a fillip when Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya disclosed his proposed plans to get down English language instructors of the Indian armed forces for training of Sri Lankan Army personnel in the near future.
Several other military matters of mutual and regional interest, including the present day Sri Lanka Army’s post-conflict nation building roles came under close scrutiny during the meeting.
The meeting also explored avenues of receiving more and more training opportunities for Sri Lankan officers in India, in addition to ongoing training programmes.
Lieutenant General Jayasuriya and General Bikram Singh during discussions also focused on reviving the old practice of exchanging sport programmes between the two organizations as it occurred in the past, since such approaches would further help broaden bilateral understanding and goodwill among officers.
Lieutenant General Jayasuriya towards the end of the cordial interaction added monumental value and presented a memento to the Indian Army Chief in appreciation of his landmark visit to Sri Lanka accepting his invitation made to this effect when the former visited the Indian Army earlier in the year. The Indian Army Chief reciprocated with a similar token.
Before his exit from the Army Headquarters, the visiting Indian Army Chief left his signature in the VIP book at Commander’s secretariat adding symbolic memories to his visit to the complex.
Late on Wednesday (19) evening, the Commander of the Army were to host a banquet in honour of the visiting Indian counterpart at the Sri Lanka Armoured Corps Regimental Headquarters at Rock House, Colombo 13.
General Bikram Singh, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, ADC, India’s Chief of Army Staff, arrived in Sri Lanka Wednesday (19) afternoon on a five-day goodwill tour at the invitation of his Sri Lankan counterpart, Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya, Commander of the Army.
His arrival here epitomizes sound bonds of military cooperation prevailing between both organizations, regional understanding and further promotion of mutual long-lasting bilateral relations.
Indian Army Chief’s delegation, comprised of Mrs Bikram Singhe nee Surjeet Kaur, President, Army Wives Welfare Association (AWWA) and the spouse of General Bikram Singh, Major General Rajeev Tewari, Colonel S.K Acharya, Colonel C.S Dewgun and Captain Ajeev Rajeev Mathews on arrival at the Bandaranaike International Airport, Katunayake, was welcomed to a rousing reception.
Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya, Commander of the Army and Mrs Manjulika Jayasuriya, President, Seva Vanitha Army Branch warmly received the visiting Chief of Army Staff General Bikram Singh, Mrs Singh and the delegation before they were conducted to the VIP lounge in a brief procession, coloured by traditional Sri Lankan dancing troupes. The visiting Army Chief left his signature in the VIP book at the airport as a formality.
The Indian Army delegation was afterwards flown directly to Colombo’s Sri Lanka Air Force ground where they were received by Major General Daya Ratnayake, Chief of Staff, Army Headquarters, in the company of Major General H C P Goonetilleke, Military Secretary.
Later on, the visiting Indian Army Chief was to pay a courtesy call on the High Commissioner of India in Colombo.
The visiting Indian Army Chief upon arrival at the Army Headquarters main entrance was formally received in a colourful Guard of Honour, accorded on his behalf by Gemunu Watch (GW) troops.
Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya, Commander of the Army, meanwhile awaiting the visiting Chief Guest’s entry into the premises at the main porch at the Commander’s Secretariat afterwards cordially welcomed his Indian counterpart as the clock struck precisely 4.30 p.m. on Wednesday (19). Before he was ushered to his office for formal talks, General Bikram Singh was introduced to the Principal Staff Officers of the Army Headquarters by the Commander of the Army.
Cordial discussions that ensued afterwards between both Army Chiefs at Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya’s office centered largely on further expansion of the newly-established Diyatalawa Army Training Command (ARTRAC) with Indian support at different levels. ARTRAC, mandated to closely monitor, supervise, assess and coordinate all Army training institutes and their training programmes, including those at regimental levels, saw its birth a few months ago as a novel concept of the Commander of the Army.
Exchange of cordial views explored possibilities of launching one-to-one correspondence between service regiments of the Army and those of the Indian Army as measures to further broaden the spectrum of military interests, benefiting both wings.
The visiting Indian Army Chief in response to a request of the Sri Lankan counterpart, pledged to provide a few horses to the Diyatalawa Sri Lanka Military Academy (SLMA) for training purposes and all possible assistance to further improvement of training slots to Sri Lanka Army in various training programmes.
Giving another dimension to the concerns on further expansion of welfare facilities, Lieutenant General Jayasuriya, showed a keen interest on learning more about duty free outlets, reserved exclusively for Indian military personnel from the visiting Indian Army Chief during discussions. The visiting Indian Army Chief explained to the Sri Lankan Army Chief how such outlets had so far worked well in his country, affording a sense of relief to Indian soldiers returning home from overseas trips. He assured further information and assistance in this direction.
Another area of interest that sprang during those bilateral talks focused on exchange of sports programmes and conduct of tournaments between both armies every year.
Sri Lanka Army’s novel approach towards the promotion of English language skills among its personnel was to receive a fillip when Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya disclosed his proposed plans to get down English language instructors of the Indian armed forces for training of Sri Lankan Army personnel in the near future.
Several other military matters of mutual and regional interest, including the present day Sri Lanka Army’s post-conflict nation building roles came under close scrutiny during the meeting.
The meeting also explored avenues of receiving more and more training opportunities for Sri Lankan officers in India, in addition to ongoing training programmes.
Lieutenant General Jayasuriya and General Bikram Singh during discussions also focused on reviving the old practice of exchanging sport programmes between the two organizations as it occurred in the past, since such approaches would further help broaden bilateral understanding and goodwill among officers.
Lieutenant General Jayasuriya towards the end of the cordial interaction added monumental value and presented a memento to the Indian Army Chief in appreciation of his landmark visit to Sri Lanka accepting his invitation made to this effect when the former visited the Indian Army earlier in the year. The Indian Army Chief reciprocated with a similar token.
Before his exit from the Army Headquarters, the visiting Indian Army Chief left his signature in the VIP book at Commander’s secretariat adding symbolic memories to his visit to the complex.
Late on Wednesday (19) evening, the Commander of the Army were to host a banquet in honour of the visiting Indian counterpart at the Sri Lanka Armoured Corps Regimental Headquarters at Rock House, Colombo 13.
General Bikram Singh, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, ADC, India’s Chief of Army Staff, arrived in Sri Lanka Wednesday (19) afternoon on a five-day goodwill tour at the invitation of his Sri Lankan counterpart, Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya, Commander of the Army.
His arrival here epitomizes sound bonds of military cooperation prevailing between both organizations, regional understanding and further promotion of mutual long-lasting bilateral relations.
Indian Army Chief’s delegation, comprised of Mrs Bikram Singhe nee Surjeet Kaur, President, Army Wives Welfare Association (AWWA) and the spouse of General Bikram Singh, Major General Rajeev Tewari, Colonel S.K Acharya, Colonel C.S Dewgun and Captain Ajeev Rajeev Mathews on arrival at the Bandaranaike International Airport, Katunayake, was welcomed to a rousing reception.
Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya, Commander of the Army and Mrs Manjulika Jayasuriya, President, Seva Vanitha Army Branch warmly received the visiting Chief of Army Staff General Bikram Singh, Mrs Singh and the delegation before they were conducted to the VIP lounge in a brief procession, coloured by traditional Sri Lankan dancing troupes. The visiting Army Chief left his signature in the VIP book at the airport as a formality.
The Indian Army delegation was afterwards flown directly to Colombo’s Sri Lanka Air Force ground where they were received by Major General Daya Ratnayake, Chief of Staff, Army Headquarters, in the company of Major General H C P Goonetilleke, Military Secretary.
Later on, the visiting Indian Army Chief was to pay a courtesy call on the High Commissioner of India in Colombo.
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