Strengthening Defense Ties: Sri Lankan Commander Honors Indian Soldiers

Sri Lankan Commander Pays Tribute to Indian Soldiers

Lieutenant General B.K.G.M. Lasantha Rodrigo, the Commander of the Sri Lankan Army, recently honored Indian soldiers at the National War Memorial in New Delhi. He also reviewed a formal guard of honor at South Block, symbolizing the robust defense relations between India and Sri Lanka. The ceremonies highlighted the shared military ethos and camaraderie between the two nations, underscoring their strong and enduring defense ties.

In a bid to strengthen these bilateral relations, Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar met with a delegation of Sri Lankan parliamentary colleagues last month, who were in India for the PRIDE capacity-building program. He expressed appreciation for their condemnation of terrorism and their sympathy regarding the Pahalgam attack, which reflects the growing mutual trust and cooperation beyond military engagement.

Discussion on Regional Cooperation

Jaishankar also discussed India's neighborhood-first policy, emphasizing the importance of strong ties among people to promote regional cooperation and development. He reiterated India's commitment to supporting Sri Lanka's growth and progress, highlighting the close and friendly relations between the two countries. In a post shared on social media, he mentioned, "I had a warm discussion with Sri Lankan parliamentary colleagues visiting for the PRIDE capacity-building program. I appreciate their condemnation of terrorism and their sympathy regarding the Pahalgam attack. We discussed our neighborhood-first policy based on strong people-to-people ties and reaffirmed our commitment to Sri Lanka's development and progress."

Context of Recent Military Operations

This dialogue comes in the wake of Operation Sindoor, which was initiated on May 7 in response to the Pahalgam terrorist attack on April 22 that claimed the lives of 26 Indian citizens. This attack was carried out by Pakistan-sponsored terrorists. India targeted terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, resulting in the deaths of over 100 terrorists linked to groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen. India and Sri Lanka share a long-standing bond rooted in over 2,500 years of civilizational ties.