Lanka and Australia reaffirm commitment to strengthening defence ties

Sri Lanka and Australia have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening defence ties and exploring new avenues for cooperation, particularly in the areas of maritime domain awareness (MDA), training exchanges, and capacity-building initiatives.

This renewed focus on bilateral defence collaboration came during a meeting between Australian High Commissioner, Paul Stephens, and Deputy Minister of Defence, Major General (Retd) Aruna Jayasekara on Tuesday (8).

A statement from the Ministry of Defence said that the courtesy call, held at the Deputy Minister’s office in Colombo, provided an opportunity for both sides to deliberate on key issues of mutual interest, with a specific focus on defence and security cooperation.

Maj Gen Jayasekara expressed his appreciation for Australia’s ongoing support in strengthening Sri Lanka’s maritime security and defence capabilities. He pointed to a recent example of collaboration between the two countries—the donation of a state-of-the-art Shallow Water Multi-Beam Echo Sounder by the Australian government to the Sri Lanka Navy Hydrographic Service (SLNHS).

The Deputy Minister highlighted that the advanced equipment had significantly enhanced Sri Lanka’s ability to survey harbours, coastal areas, and strategic waterways. He noted that this donation was not only an important step in strengthening national security but also contributed to broader regional maritime stability.