"Pakistan is a friend in need and also a friend in deed": Chief of Sri Lankan Army

Chief of the Pakistan Army General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani visited the Sri Lanka earlier this month.

During his visit he met with the Prime Minister D.M Jayaratne, Sri Lankan Army’s Chief Lt. Gen. Jagath Jayasuriya, Secretary Defence Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, Chief of the Sri Lank’s Air Force Air Chief Marshal Roshan Goonetileke, and Sri Lankan Navy’s Chief Vice Admiral D.W.A.S. Dissanayake.

Both sides discussed the possibilities for sharing Sri Lankan experience of fighting against the terrorists. Pakistan and Sri Lanka has longstanding defense ties. Pakistan has helped in Sri Lanka in its fight against LTTE a thirty year old terrorist group. Pakistan send military aid to the Sri Lankan armed forces when they were in dire need of support.

It was the time when western countries were forcing Sri Lanka to stop the military action and agree with the terms of LTTE but it was military aid and support from the Pakistan which allowed the Sri Lankan armed forces to defeat the LTTE.

Main focus of the Sri Lankan side was to get more training opportunities from the Pakistan for its military.

In his speech at the Defense Services Command and Staff College, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani said that defense relationship between Sri Lanka and Pakistan is very old and Pakistan will continue to provide the training to the military officers of the Sri Lankan armed forces.

Sri Lankan Army’s Chief Lt. Gen. Jagath Jayasuriya said that "I thanked the Pakistan Army for their support in defeating the LTTE”. He also said that “Pakistan is a friend in need and also a friend in deed.”

He added that Pakistan was the only nation that never turned away and always helped Sri Lanka whenever it was requested. He said that Pakistan supplied Sri Lanka with the defense items without any delays which helped a lot in defeating the LTTE.

Jagath Jayasuriya said that Sri Lankan Army will continue the training of its military officers from the Pakistan and Sri Lanka is also sharing its experience of fighting terrorists through training to the Pakistani Army officers.

Sri Lankan Army’s Chief also invited the General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani to participate in a Seminar about the Sri Lanka’s strategies used to defeat the LTTE. This seminar is planned to be held at the end of May this year.