Vice Admiral Damian Fernando returned from a three-day official visit to New Delhi where he engaged in high-level discussions with Indian defence officials on strengthening naval cooperation and training programmes in the Indian Ocean region.
Sri Lanka's Navy Chief Vice Admiral Damian Fernando completed a three-day official visit to India on Sunday, meeting with senior defence and military leadership to advance bilateral maritime cooperation. According to Navy Headquarters, the discussions centred on enhancing security collaboration between the two nations' navies and addressing broader Indian Ocean regional security concerns.
During his time in New Delhi, Vice Admiral Fernando held talks 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. The meetings covered bilateral defence cooperation, joint training initiatives, and opportunities to strengthen air and maritime partnerships across the Indian Ocean region.
A significant component of the visit focused on expanding naval training and professional development between the two countries. Vice Admiral Fernando travelled to Kochi, Kerala, where he met Vice Admiral Sameer Saxena, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of India's Southern Naval Command, to review existing training exchange programmes and explore avenues for broadening such initiatives. The Sri Lankan Navy Chief had previously completed the Long Gunnery and Missile Course at INS Dronacharya, India's naval training establishment.
The visit underscores ongoing efforts by Sri Lanka and India to deepen defence ties and capacity-building in maritime security, reflecting the strategic importance both nations place on cooperation in the Indian Ocean region.