By Walter Jayawardhana

Jane’s Defence Weekly quoted Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa as saying that Russia has agreed to supply military transport helicopters and other weapons systems to Sri Lanka.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The London based magazine in its May 27 issue said that a Ministry of Defence spokesman confirmed to the magazine that the deal had been agreed although he was unable to elaborate on the specific equipment involved.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Jane’s said , as “the war against Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam entered its final stages , Moscow had moved to strengthen its ties with Colombo repeatedly voicing its support for the military campaign.”

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The magazine said with the money provided in the budget for defence the government, “may be able to devote more funds to procurement programmes now that the active operations are over.”

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ On May 26 the Presidential office said in a statement that Russian President Dimitri Medvedv told Sri Lankan President over telephone that Russia considered Sri Lanka an old friend and ally and looked forward to continue the warm relations between the two countries.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Under these relations Russia also promised to continue to assist Sri Lanka for the peace and reconstruction of the country. Russia is also expected to help the large number of Internally Displaced Persons.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ President Mahinda Rajapaksa also thanked Russia for the considerable support the country gave to Sri Lanka at the UN Security Council and at other UN bodies.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ In the telephone conversation initiated by the Russian President it was also revealed that the Foreign Minister of the country Sergey Lavrov will visit Colombo in October this year.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ In the aftermath of the war Sri Lanka’s Army Commander General Sarath Fonseka said, the country will increase the number serving in the army to 300,000 by recruiting 100,000 new recruits and make sure that no new insurgency could be started with a terrorist movement like the LTTE. He even said that investigations will start in to the probable sleeper cells of the LTTE established all over the country like suicide bombers hiding in Colombo