During the discussion with President Rajapaksa, Air Chief Marshal Raha told President Rajapaksa that he had very fruitful meetings with defence officials in Sri Lanka. The talks with the President this evening focused on a number of matters pertaining to defence cooperation, including continued training and joint air force exercises.

Mr. Raha, who arrived in the island on Tuesday (July 15), in addition to talks with Sri Lanka Air Force Commander Air Marshal K.A. Gunatilleke, also held discussions with Secretary to the Ministry of Defence and Urban Development Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the Commander of the Sri Lanka Army Lt. Gen. Daya Ratnayake and the Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy Vice Admiral Jayantha Perera, Mr. Raha, whose visit to Sri Lanka is his first official tour abroad since assuming office in January of this year, visited the headquarters of the Sri Lanka Army and Navy, the war memorial of the Indian Peace Keeping Force in Battaramulla, the Air Force Academy China Bay in Trincomalee and the Sri Lanka Air Force Base in Katunayake.

The High Commissioner of India in Sri Lanka Mr. Y.K. Sinha accompanied the Air Chief along with several other Indian Air Force officials.

Minister of External Affairs Prof. G.L Peiris, Secretary to the Ministry of External Affairs Mrs. Kshenuka Senewiratne and Air Marshal Gunatilleke were also present for the meeting.(KH/SI)