Defence Secretary Deepens Sri Lanka’s Defence Ties Through High Level Talks in Canada

Sri Lankan Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd) held separate bilateral meetings with senior defence leaders from France, India, the Maldives and Bangladesh during the Chiefs of Defence Conference in Canada on 31 August and 01 September (2026).

Discussions with the Chief of the Defence Force of the Maldives, Major General Ibrahim Hilmy, focused on practical measures to expand defence cooperation. These included specialised special forces training for Maldivian personnel, opportunities for Maldives National Defence Force student officers to attend programmes at Sri Lanka's Defence Services Command and Staff College, and the establishment of a joint mechanism for disaster preparedness, coordination and response.

In talks with France's Chief of Defence, General Fabien Mandon, the Defence Secretary welcomed France's continued support for bilateral defence relations. The discussions covered potential cost sharing and grant assistance for tugboats, coastal patrol vessels and autonomous underwater vehicles, as well as expanded naval engagement and cooperation in advanced cybersecurity.

The meeting with India's Chief of Defence Staff, General N.S. Raja Subramani, focused on further strengthening the longstanding defence partnership between Sri Lanka and India. Discussions also centred around improving maritime domain awareness, strengthening information sharing and institutional cooperation, exploring further opportunities for capacity building, technology cooperation and professional engagement between the two countries' armed forces.

Continuing the engagements on the following day (01 September), the Defence Secretary held bilateral discussions with the Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division of Bangladesh, Lieutenant General Mir Mushfiqur Rahman. Discussions focused on further strengthening defence cooperation between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, including the development of a Memorandum of Understanding, staff exchange programmes, enhanced opportunities for professional military education and training, and cooperation in United Nations peacekeeping training. The two sides also discussed initiating bilateral staff talks, strengthening capacity building initiatives, and facilitating the participation of Bangladeshi armed forces personnel in available training programmes in Sri Lanka, while exploring cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

These engagements highlighted Sri Lanka's continued efforts to develop mutually beneficial defence partnerships, strengthen institutional and operational capabilities, and promote practical cooperation with regional and international partners.