ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman visited Sri Lanka on Tuesday.
Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman is on two-day official visit to Sri Lanka on the special invitation of Sri Lankan leadership.
The air chief called on Sri Lankan President H E Maithripala Sirisena and conveyed the best wishes from prime minister and people of Pakistan. He highlighted the deep rooted friendly relations between the two countries and offered cooperation in aviation and defence related fields. The Sri Lankan president acknowledged Pakistan’s unwavering support to Sri Lanka and lauded the role of Pakistan Army in general and Pakistan Air Force in particular for their unmatched resolve in fighting the menace of terrorism.
Earlier, the air chief also called on the Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in his Office. The air chief assured of sustained support and cooperation in the fields of technical training and professional expertise. He also reiterated to cement the existing friendly relations and taking it to further heights. The Sri Lankan premier appreciated professionalism of PAF and expressed his desire to learn from each other experiences.
Earlier in the day, the air chief visited SLAF Headquarters. He was presented with ‘Guard of Honour’ on his arrival. He called on Sri Lankan Air Force Commander Air Marshal Gagan Pulasthi Bulathsinghala. Both the dignitaries remained together for some time and discussed matters of mutual interest. The air chief thanked his counterpart for warm welcome and traditional hospitality accorded to him. He also offered to provide training assistance and cooperation in various aviation related areas to the Sri Lankan Air Force. The Sri Lankan air chief thanked Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman for offer of cooperation and agreed to explore new avenues to enhance bilateral professional cooperation.
The air chief also called on State Secretary for Defence, A.P G Kithsiri, State Minister for Defence, Ruwan Wijewardene, Lieutenant General A W J C De Silva, commander of the Sri Lanka Army, and Vice Admiral RC Wijegunaratne, commander of the Sri Lankan Navy, at their respective services headquarters. The air chief was accorded very warm welcome by the Sri Lankan military leadership.The contingents presented guard of honour to air chief on his arrival at respective headquarters of Sri Lankan Defence Services. The air chief’s meetings with Sri Lankan military leadership were productive and held in cordial atmosphere, while bilateral matters pertaining to mutual interest came under discussion in the meeting.
