A Sri Lankan delegation headed by Mr. Kapila Waidyarathne, Secretary of the Ministry of Defence of Sri Lanka, attended the International Military-Technical Forum Army-2017 held in Park Patriot, Kubinka, Moscow region, from 22-27, August 2017.
The Secretary of the Ministry of Defence of Sri Lanka was accompanied by Mr. Sarath kumara, Additional Secretary of Defence, Air Vice Marshal D.L.S. Dias, Chief of Staff of Sri Lanka Air Force, Group Captain J.P. Balasooriya, Command Research and Development Officer of Sri Lanka Air Force, Lieutenant Commander Eranga Buddhika, ADC to Secretary of Defence, and Group Captain Channa Dissanayake, Defence Attache of the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Russia.
In the framework of the Forum the delegation visited the static exposition where the latest military and special hardware of Russian and foreign origin was displayed. In addition, the delegates attended the fire power demonstration of Russian machines and armaments.
Furthermore, the Secretary of the Sri Lankan Ministry of Defence had a bilateral meeting with the Deputy Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation Lieutenant General Alexander Fomin. The Parties discussed the current state of defence and military and technical cooperation between the two countries as well as prospects of further development in these spheres. Having noted fruitful and constructive character of negotiations, both sides have stressed the importance of increasing cooperation between defence institutions in field of military education and training.
The Sri Lankan delegation also had official discussions with the representatives of Federal Service for Military and Technical Cooperation (FSMTC) and JSC Rosoboronexport. During the meeting participants discussed the current state of on-going projects of military and technical cooperation between Sri Lanka and Russia and worked out plans to enhance cooperation in the long term. Russian side was represented by Mr. Mikhail Petukhov, Deputy Director of the FSMTC, accompanied by other officials of the Federal Service as well as senior representatives of the JSC Rosoboronexport.
During their official visit to Moscow, the delegates attended the exhibition at the Museum of Great Patriotic War, where they also discussed further strengthening of cultural ties between Sri Lanka and Russia with the Deputy Director of the Museum.
