Lanka ‘ Priority One’ partner in defence: India

COLOMBO: India on Sunday described Sri Lanka as "Priority One" partner in the defence sphere and said the participation of its militar y aircraf t in the 70th anniversar y celebration of the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) is indicative of the growing cooperation, camaraderie and friendship between the two militaries. The SLAF is celebrating its 70th Anniversary on March 2 and to commemorate the historical event, a Fly Past and an Aerobatic Display is being organised for the first time in the countr y at a grand scale. A total of 23 aircraf t of the Indian Air Force (IAF) and Indian Navy would participate in the grand event.

Sri Lanka is "Priority One" partner for India in the defence sphere, the Indian High Commission in Colombo said in a statement on Sunday. It said the assurance of India's fullest cooperation in the field of defence and security was recently reiterated to Sri Lanka's leadership by National Security Adviser Ajit Doval during his visit to Colombo for a trilateral Maritime Security Cooperation talks.

Doval attended the high-level trilateral maritime dialogue in Colombo among India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives in November last year.