Colombo: Sri Lanka has extended its sincere appreciation to India for its significant role in safeguarding both airspace and maritime territories. The expression of gratitude was conveyed by Sagala Ratnayaka, Senior Advisor on National Security to Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe, during the official handover of a successor Indian Navy Dornier aircraft to the Sri Lanka Air Force.
The Donier-228 maritime surveillance aircraft is set to replace its predecessor, which was handed over to Sri Lanka by the Indian government exactly one year ago. The replacement became necessary due to scheduled mandatory maintenance of the original aircraft.
The origins of this cooperative effort can be traced back to January 2018, when Sri Lanka made a request during bilateral security discussions in New Delhi regarding the acquisition of maritime surveillance aircraft. In response, India generously provided the Donier aircraft, which had been part of the Indian Navy’s fleet, to Sri Lanka on a complimentary basis for a two-year period.
Ratnayaka lauded India’s support, particularly during a challenging financial crisis faced by Sri Lanka the previous year. He acknowledged that India went above and beyond expectations to lend a helping hand when it was needed most.
He emphasized the essential nature of collaboration between neighboring countries like Sri Lanka and India to ensure mutual safety and security. Ratnayaka also acknowledged the support of other nations, such as the United States and Australia, in enhancing Sri Lanka’s maritime security capabilities by assisting the Sri Lanka Air Force and Navy.
The Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Gopal Baglay, underlined India’s unwavering commitment to enhancing the capacity and development of Sri Lanka’s defense forces. This effort, he noted, aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Security and Growth for All in the Region’ (SAGAR).
Baglay revealed that this collaboration will further strengthen with Sri Lanka’s potential acquisition of additional Dornier aircraft with Indian assistance in the future. He praised the previous deployment of the Indian Navy Dornier, highlighting its significant contributions to maritime reconnaissance and search and rescue (SAR) missions in Sri Lanka. The operational efficiency of the aircraft and the streamlining of standard operating procedures (SOPs) between the two services were particularly noteworthy.
The Indian High Commission issued a statement underscoring the importance of securing the seas through such initiatives, promoting a peaceful environment for the progress and prosperity of both nations. This endeavor aligns seamlessly with India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy, reaffirming the strong ties between the two neighboring countries.