India’s Air Force Chief, said last week his country is ever ready to help Sri Lanka and Colombo can be assured of its support under ‘any urgent circumstance’ press reports said.
“As Sri Lanka’s neighbour, the Indian Air Force is ready to give its fullest support to Sri Lanka because of our cordial relations,” Air Chief Marshal S. P. Tyagi told a news conference after meeting with Chief of Defence Staff Daya Sandagiri.
Explaining the purpose of his five-day visit, Air Chief Marshal Tyagi said: “The visit had been planned a few months ago and we friends have to see each other. Our previous Commanders also followed this policy and I am here to continue their tradition.”
Earlier the Air Force Headquarters described the Indian Air Chief’s visit as a “goodwill trip” aimed at strengthening bilateral and defence ties and also to discuss the training programme between the two forces.
Sri Lanka’s military arranged for Air Marshal Thiyagi to visit “several air force bases in Sri Lanka and also places of religious and historical importance in Kandy and Anuradhapura.”
Air Marshal Thiyagi met Sri Lanka Air Force Commander Donald Perera, Army Commander Sarath Fonseka and Navy Commander Wasantha Karannagoda for discussions.
During his trip, he also met with President Mahinda Rajapakse, Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremasinghe and the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Kotabaya Rajapakse.
In December 2005, the Indian General Officer Commander-in-Chief of Southern Command, Lt. Gen. B.S. Thakker, paid a visit to Sri Lanka. Thakker also visited the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) front lines in Vavuniya.
Thakker''s visit to Sri Lanka was followed by the visit by Vice Admiral Sureesh Mehta, Commander in Chief of the Indian Navys Eastern Naval Command between 12 and 16 December.
Although a defense co-operation agreement between India and Sri Lanka mooted in 2003 is yet to be finalized, the two countries have extensive military links.
The Indian Air Force was engaged in Delhi’s efforts to disarm the Tamil Tigers from July 1987 to March 1990. Some 70,000 aircraft sorties were carried out by the Indian Air Force.
“As Sri Lanka’s neighbour, the Indian Air Force is ready to give its fullest support to Sri Lanka because of our cordial relations,” Air Chief Marshal S. P. Tyagi told a news conference after meeting with Chief of Defence Staff Daya Sandagiri.
Explaining the purpose of his five-day visit, Air Chief Marshal Tyagi said: “The visit had been planned a few months ago and we friends have to see each other. Our previous Commanders also followed this policy and I am here to continue their tradition.”
Earlier the Air Force Headquarters described the Indian Air Chief’s visit as a “goodwill trip” aimed at strengthening bilateral and defence ties and also to discuss the training programme between the two forces.
Sri Lanka’s military arranged for Air Marshal Thiyagi to visit “several air force bases in Sri Lanka and also places of religious and historical importance in Kandy and Anuradhapura.”
Air Marshal Thiyagi met Sri Lanka Air Force Commander Donald Perera, Army Commander Sarath Fonseka and Navy Commander Wasantha Karannagoda for discussions.
During his trip, he also met with President Mahinda Rajapakse, Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremasinghe and the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Kotabaya Rajapakse.
In December 2005, the Indian General Officer Commander-in-Chief of Southern Command, Lt. Gen. B.S. Thakker, paid a visit to Sri Lanka. Thakker also visited the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) front lines in Vavuniya.
Thakker''s visit to Sri Lanka was followed by the visit by Vice Admiral Sureesh Mehta, Commander in Chief of the Indian Navys Eastern Naval Command between 12 and 16 December.
Although a defense co-operation agreement between India and Sri Lanka mooted in 2003 is yet to be finalized, the two countries have extensive military links.
The Indian Air Force was engaged in Delhi’s efforts to disarm the Tamil Tigers from July 1987 to March 1990. Some 70,000 aircraft sorties were carried out by the Indian Air Force.
