Commander of the Sri Lankan Navy, Vice Admiral Damian Fernando, paid a courtesy call on Defence Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh in New Delhi on August 27, 2026, during his three-day official visit to India.
The meeting provided an opportunity for the two sides to review the progress of ongoing activities and projects being undertaken under the Bilateral Defence Cooperation Plan between India and Sri Lanka.
During the interaction, India and Sri Lanka discussed areas of mutual interest and reviewed initiatives aimed at further deepening defence cooperation between the two countries. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening existing mechanisms of bilateral engagement.
The discussions highlighted the importance of continued cooperation between the two maritime neighbours, particularly through sustained institutional engagement and implementation of agreed defence cooperation initiatives.
Vice Admiral Damian Fernando’s visit forms part of the regular high-level exchanges between the defence establishments of India and Sri Lanka. Such visits provide an important platform for reviewing ongoing cooperation, exchanging perspectives and identifying opportunities for further collaboration.
The engagement also underlined the longstanding defence relationship between the two countries and their shared interest in strengthening cooperation in areas of mutual importance.
The three-day visit by the Sri Lankan Navy Commander is expected to further reinforce defence and maritime ties between India and Sri Lanka, contributing to closer cooperation and greater understanding between the two countries’ armed forces.
