India reaffirms Lanka defence ties Â
Context: With the participation of the Indian Air Force Chief and 23 aircraft in the three-day event in Colombo to mark the 70th anniversary of the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF), India sought to reaffirm its strong defence cooperation with Sri Lanka.
Details:
- A team of 4 Sarang Advance Light Helicopters, Surya Kiran (Hawks), Tejas Fighter Aircraft, Tejas Trainer and the Dornier Maritime Patrol Aircraft from India were in Sri Lanka to participate in a fly past and acrobatic display event with the SLAF, held by Colombo’s seafront.
Background:
- During Sri Lanka’s over three decade-civil war, India has played a crucial role, politically and at times, using its military.
- While the controversial Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) presence here, and ‘Operation Poomalai’ of 1987 — when the Indian Air Force dropped food supplies in Jaffna — drew criticism from sections, the Indian military’s support has been repeatedly acknowledged by Sri Lanka’s national leaders.
- In Sri Lanka’s post-war era, the Indo-Lanka military partnership has focused mostly on training and capacity building.
- About 1,200 Sri Lankan military personnel are trained in India every year.
- Last year, Indian Navy and Coast Guard personnel helped the Sri Lankan Navy in a crucial fire-fighting operation, when an oil tanker went up in flames, off the island’s east coast.
- Further, Sri Lanka’s strategic location makes it a crucial partner for all countries in the region.
- Pakistan’s Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan was also in Sri Lanka to attend the 70th year celebrations.
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