Courtesy The Daily Mirror

State Minister of Defence Premitha Bandara Tennakoon and Defence Secretary Kamal Gunaratne today held discussion with the delegation led by U.S. Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs (PDASD) Jedidiah P Royal over the matters of defence cooperation enhancement and regional security stability.

Jedidiah P Royal paid a courtesy call on the State Minister of Defence and Defence Secretary during two separate occasions today.

U.S. PDASD accompanied by Defence Attaché of the US embassy Lt. Col. Anthony Nelson on arrival at the State Ministry of Defence.

The brief discussion held during the occasion was centred on matters of further strengthening the existing ties between the U.S. and Sri Lanka.

Assistant Defence Attaché in the U.S. Embassy Mr. Seth Nevins, U.S. South Asia Desk Officer Lt. Col. Christian Mitchell and Sri Lankan Defence Ministry’s Senior Assistant Secretary (Defence) Mr. Harsha Withanarachchi were also present during the meeting.

Prior to the meeting with the State Minister, the U.S. delegation met Kamal Gunaratne at the Defence Headquarters Complex in Sri Jayewardenepura.

Defence Secretary held a cordial discussion with Mr. Jedidiah P Royal and the mutually supportive relations existed between the two countries were recalled. 

Military Liaison Officer (MLO) of the Ministry of Defence Maj. Gen. Dinesh Nanayakkara, Assistant Defence Attaché in the U.S. Embassy Mr. Seth Nevins and U.S. South Asia Desk Officer Lt. Col. Christian Mitchell were also present at the occasion.

The high-level US delegation arrived in the country on Tuesday night.(Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya)