Indian Navy Chief In Sri Lanka

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COLOMBO (GaeaTimes.com)- Admiral Nirmal Verma, the Indian navy chief reached the capital of Sir Lanka Sunday for an official tour. After 2004, this is the first high profile visit. INS Delhi, Indian Navy’s guided missile destroyer and one of the biggest warships made in India has also reached Colombo port. The Indian navy chief would meet Mahindra Rajapaksa, the president of Sri Lanka too. He is likely to pay tributes to the IPKF soldiers who died in the country between 1987 and 1990. The memorial built for the soldiers was scheduled to be inaugurated earlier.

Admiral Nirmal Verma, the Indian navy chief will go to the Kankesanthurai Harbour located in Jaffna to talk on its rehabilitation and repair. Nirupak, an Indian Navy Survey Ship will start hydrographical survey of the Kankesanthurai Harbour shortly so that the project can be kick started. The tour is likely to strengthen the defense ties between the two countries. The navy chiefs of both the countries have expressed their interests to consolidate the defense ties. Admiral Nirmal Verma was given a guard of honor and he exchanged mementoes with Thisara Samarasinghe, the Sri Lanka Navy Commander. The Sri Lanka Navy will hold a number of programs to honor his visit.

While the Indian Navy chief is on a tour in Sri Lanka, the navy bagged a deal from Lockheed Martin, the US defence major. It will supply the advanced F-35 fighters to the navy to cater to its requirement for combat aircraft. It will definitely boost the Indian Navy’s arsenal and the navy officials are upbeat about this deal.