Navy Chief Vice Admiral Damian Fernando held a series of strategic-level discussions with senior Indian defence and military officials during a three-day official visit to New Delhi. He returned on Sunday (30).

Navy Headquarters said that the two sides discussed ways to further strengthen maritime security cooperation between the two Navies in support of security in the Indian Ocean region. They also exchanged views on expanding training opportunities and capacity-building programmes, as well as other areas of bilateral importance.

During his visit to New Delhi, Vice Admiral Fernando also held official discussions with India’s Chief of Defence Staff, General N.S. Raja Subramani, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and Vice Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit and defence industry representatives. Discussions at these meetings focused on bilateral defence cooperation, joint training programmes, and opportunities to enhance air and maritime cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region.

As part of efforts to further expand cooperation in naval training and professional development, Vice Admiral Fernando also met Vice Admiral Sameer Saxena, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of India’s Southern Naval Command, at its headquarters in Kochi, Kerala. The two sides discussed existing naval training exchange programmes and opportunities for introducing and expanding further training initiatives. The meeting followed the Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy’s visit to INS Dronacharya, the Indian Navy’s training establishment where he previously completed the Long Gunnery and Missile Course.

The ICRC mission in Colombo said on Sunday (30), they honoured the thousands of people around the world who are either missing or separated from their families due to armed conflict, violence, disasters and migration, standing in solidarity with families who endure the pain of not knowing the fate of their loved ones.

The text of the statement: “In Sri Lanka, thousands of families of missing persons from all communities across the country are still waiting for answers. Families of missing persons have the right to know what has happened to their loved ones. Unable to grieve, find closure or rebuild their lives, these families often struggle to meet the emotional, economic, legal, administrative, and social challenges posed by the absence of their missing loved one and the uncertainty that comes with it.

Addressing the needs of families of missing persons is a complex, multi-faceted process. Families are key partners and rights-holders and they are at the heart of this process. While national authorities have the primary responsibility to address their needs, local stakeholders can contribute to a broader, sustained response by building a comprehensive framework of support to address the diverse needs of families. Central to this is the search itself, a vital step toward the clarification of the fate and whereabouts of missing persons, involving collaborative action by multiple stakeholders.

Presently in Sri Lanka, the ICRC implements the Missing Persons Project which aims to foster a sustainable response to the issue of missing persons by supporting families, strengthening national and local capacities and enabling coordinated, state-led and community-based efforts to clarify the fate and whereabouts of the missing.

Addressing the issue of missing persons is also crucial for peace and reconciliation. Unresolved cases can perpetuate trauma, deepen grievances and hinder community healing long after violence has ended. Sustained political commitment is necessary to resolve the issue in the long-term, even decades after an armed conflict.”

The United States and Sri Lanka began Atlas Angel II exercise yesterday (31) bringing together military personnel and subject-matter experts to exchange expertise and train together in areas critical to disaster response, including C-130 aircraft maintenance, urban search and rescue, incident command systems, construction engineering, landslide response, and chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive hazards. The exercise will conclude on 4 September.

The United Kingdom and Bangladesh participate as observers. The US Embassy in Colombo said that the exercise is taking place at the Sri Lanka Air Force Base Katunayake, and in Kandy. According to the US Embassy here the exercise would strengthen practical cooperation and interoperability between the US and Sri Lankan forces in humanitarian assistance and disaster response.

The Embassy statement quoted new US Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Eric Meyer, as having said: “The United States and Sri Lanka have a shared interest in being prepared when disasters strike. Atlas Angel is a strong example of what our partnership looks like in practice—Americans and Sri Lankans training together, sharing expertise, and learning from one another. Through the Montana National Guard and our broader defense partnership, we are building on years of cooperation and strengthening the readiness that helps protect American citizens and our partners, safeguard lives and livelihoods, and contribute to a more secure and resilient Indo-Pacific.”