An Australian delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Richard Marles held bilateral talks with Sri Lanka’s Deputy Minister of Defence, Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd), on 3rd of June in Colombo.
Australian High Commissioner Paul Stephens also participated in the discussions, which focused on strengthening the long-standing Australia–Sri Lanka partnership across political, economic, and defence spheres.
The two sides engaged in a constructive dialogue aimed at deepening cooperation in maritime security, maritime domain awareness, capacity building, and defence training.
Minister Marles praised Sri Lanka’s strategic role in maintaining stability in the Indian Ocean Region and reaffirmed Australia’s commitment to enhancing joint maritime surveillance capabilities.
Deputy Minister Jayasekara acknowledged the strong defence ties between the two nations and expressed appreciation for Australia’s continued support.
He highlighted key contributions such as the multi-million-dollar fuel assistance to the Sri Lanka Navy and Air Force since 2022.
He also thanked Australia for donating a KA-350 Beechcraft aircraft to the SLAF and advanced hydrographic equipment to the Navy, boosting Sri Lanka’s maritime surveillance efforts.
The visit reinforced both countries’ shared commitment to peace, stability, and security in the Indo-Pacific through closer defence cooperation and strategic dialogue.
