COLOMBO – An Indian Navy Dornier aircraft was ceremonially handed over to the Sri Lanka Air Force on Wednesday (16), in commemoration of the 77th Independence Day of India and the strengthening of India- Sri Lanka relations,
The aircraft was handed over to Sagala Ratnayaka, Chief of Staff and Senior Adviser to the President on National Security by High Commissioner of India, Gopal Baglay, at a solemn event at the SLAF Base Katunayake attended by senior officials from Sri Lanka Air Force and the Defence Adviser of India.
The India-made Dornier is the second such aircraft to be deployed with SLAF on lease under an India grant. It replaces the first Indian Navy Dornier aircraft which was handed over to President Ranil Wickremesinghe on August 15, 2022 and returned to India for scheduled maintenance.
The induction of state of the art Dornier Maritime Reconnaissance aircraft would exponentially increase the surveillance capability of Sri Lanka and would be force multiplier for the Sri Lanka Air Force, the Indian High Commission in Colombo said in a statement.
It noted High Commissioner Baglay had highlighted that India has remained committed towards capacity building and sustained development of Sri Lanka Defence forces, as a reflection of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) program
Baglay had also said the engagement would be further cemented by sourcing of additional Dornier aircraft by Sri Lanka with Indian assistance in the future and that the arrival of the reconnaissance aircraft was indicative of the growing cooperation and friendship between the two nations.
He had also emphasized that the Indian Navy Dornier deployed last year made significant contribution towards maritime reconnaissance and SAR missions, noting that the aircraft’s operational availability was impressive and was able to streamline the SOPs between the two services.
Baglay has also highlighted that securing the seas through the induction of the aircraft, will help in creating a peaceful environment for progress and prosperity of the people of the two nations and is symbolic of the high priority accorded to Sri Lanka as part of India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy.
The Dornier aircraft with its advanced sensor fit would provide the Sri Lanka Air Force with improved capability to tackle common security challenges in the region such as Drug and Human Trafficking, Smuggling and Search and Rescue, the statement said, recalling that Maritime Security has been identified as a key pillar of the Colombo Security Conclave and induction of the platform into the Sri Lanka Air Force would positively contribute towards keeping the vast EEZ of Sri Lanka free from maritime threats.
-ENCL
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