The newly appointed Defence Attaché of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Sri Lanka, Senior Colonel Fu Xiao, paid a courtesy call on Deputy Minister of Defence Major General (Retd.) Aruna Jayasekara at his office in Colombo.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the meeting took place yesterday (15) and focused on bilateral defence cooperation and matters of mutual interest between the two countries.
During the discussions, Deputy Minister Jayasekara acknowledged China’s longstanding support for Sri Lanka’s defence sector, particularly in the areas of military training and the professional development of members of the Sri Lankan Armed Forces.
The Deputy Minister also outlined Sri Lanka’s current strategic focus on strengthening Maritime Domain Awareness, highlighting the country’s evolving security priorities and its transition from a predominantly land-based defence posture.
He further reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s commitment to maintaining a balanced and non-aligned foreign policy while fostering constructive relations with international partners.
According to the Ministry, both parties identified several areas for future cooperation, including maritime security initiatives aimed at combating drug trafficking, arms smuggling, and human trafficking.
The discussions also covered opportunities for collaboration in technology integration, training and simulation programmes, and disaster management.
The meeting was also attended by the Deputy Defence Attaché and the Naval Attaché of the Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka.
The Ministry noted that the engagement reflects the continued defence dialogue and cooperation between Sri Lanka and China on issues of shared interest and regional security.
