Sri Lankan army commander calls on PM, COAS

ISLAMABAD/RAWALPINDI: The Commander of Sri Lankan Army has appreciated the huge sacrifices of Pakistani nation and its valiant Armed Forces in fight against menace of terrorism.

Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake who called on Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi at Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) here on Monday, was expressing his views in the meeting. The Sri Lankan commander also held meeting with Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa at General Headquarters in Rawalpindi.

It has been officially stated that the matters relating to Pakistan-Sri Lanka bilateral defence relations and mutual cooperation were discussed during the meeting with PM. Expressing satisfaction over the existing level of security cooperation between the two countries, the prime minister observed that regional peace is a shared objective of the two countries and therefore calls for greater cooperation and sharing of expertise in the field of defence between the two countries.

General Mahesh Senanayake thanked the prime minister for his warm welcome and appreciated the huge sacrifices of the Pakistani nation and its valiant Armed Forces in the fight against the menace of terrorism. He said that Sri Lanka is keen to further strengthen its ties with Pakistan and promote multi-faceted cooperation in the areas of security and defence.

Monitoring report adds: Sri Lankan Army Commander Mahesh Senanayaka hailed the efforts made by Pakistan in the war against terrorism and ensuring regional peace during a meeting with Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Monday, reported Geo News. According to Inter Services Public Relations statement, COAS and Sri Lankan Army Commander discussed matters of mutual interests in the meeting, which was held at General Headquarters in Rawalpindi. Moreover, the SriLankan commander was presented with a guard of honour upon his arrival to GHQ. He also laid a wreath at Yadgar-e-Shuhada.

On January 16, COAS General Qamar Javed Bajwa traveled to Sri Lanka for a two-day official visit on the invitation of his counterpart. During the visit, General Bajwa remarked that Pakistan and Sri Lanka were probably the only countries which understand what it takes to defeat the menace of terrorism.

COAS held meetings with the Sri Lankan military leadership including the Chief of Defence Staff, the Chiefs of all three services. Upon arrival, General Bajwa was given guards of honour at the headquarters of all three services. The COAS also visited the Command and Staff College Sri Lanka and interacted with faculty and staff.

The leadership of Sri Lankan expressed their gratitude and appreciation for Pakistan's unequivocal moral and material support during Sri Lanka's successful war on terror. They also appreciated successes of Pakistan Army in ongoing war on terror.  

COAS highlighted that having cleared troubled areas from terrorists of all hues and colours, Pakistan is now going after their disorganised residual presence under Operation Raddul Fasaad.