- State Defence Minister mulls on Defence Reforms
The Sri Lankan military will be right-sized gradually and afterwards it will be set up for their classic role, the State Minister of Defence Hon. Premitha Bandara Tennakoon stated during a cordial discussion held with Ms. Afreen Akhter, the Deputy Assistant Secretary (Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs) of the U.S. Department of State.
Responding to steps taken concerning defence reforms, he expressed these remarks to Deputy Assistant Secretary Akhter during a meeting held at his office in Colombo yesterday (May 15).
Recalling supportive measures extended by the government of the U.S, State Minister Tennakoon also discussed avenues accessible to strengthen military to military and further defence cooperation between the two countries.
The fruitful bilateral discussion also included U.S. efforts to assist Sri Lanka in enhancing maritime domain awareness and maritime security and also Sri Lanka’s efforts to put forward maritime security and other regional issues in the defence policy.
Sri Lankan State Minister was keen on avenues available for armed forces personnel to engage in the overseas missions, during the session.
Ensuing the discussion Deputy Assistant Secretary Akhter presented a memento to the State Minister Tennakoon as a symbolic gesture and to mark the fruitful discussion.
Deputy Chief of Mission of the U.S. Embassy in Sri Lanka Douglas E. Sonnek, Embassy officials and officers of the State Ministry of Defence were also present at the event.
