Commander of Sri Lanka Navy Vice Admiral Perera calls on Indian Navy chief

New Delhi, May 24 (PTI) Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera on Wednesday called on Indian Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar here and held discussions on collaborative mechanisms towards ensuring peace and security in the region, officials said.

Vice Admiral Perera is on an official visit to India from May 23-27.

He was received with a ceremonial Guard of Honour at the South Block lawns. Earlier in the day, he paid homage to bravehearts at the National War Memorial, a senior official said.

During the visit, he will be presiding over the Passing Out Parade of the Spring Term 23 at Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala, he said.

Vice Admiral Perera on Wednesday called on Admiral Kumar and “held discussions on collaborative mechanisms towards ensuring peace and security in the region,” the official said.

India and Sri Lanka share a close and “historically significant” relationship, and both the countries have engaged closely towards reinforcing the existing relations, officials said.

Both countries have enhanced their interactions in the maritime domain substantially in accordance with India’s ‘Neighbourhood First Policy’ and the maritime outlook of ‘Security and Growth for All in Region’, they said.

The Indian Navy cooperates with the Sri Lanka Navy through various initiatives, which include operational interactions such as the bilateral naval exercise SLINEX, hydrography and training. In addition, warships from both the navies regularly make port calls at each other’s ports, the officials added.

The visit by the Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy is “symbolic of increasing naval cooperation” between the two navies, they said.

It has renewed the sense of commitment of two friendly maritime neighbours to enhance the security and tackle the maritime challenges in the Indian Ocean Region, the officials said.