Admiral Arun Prakash, in Sri Lanka on his first official visit after assuming duties as the commander of the Indian Navy two months ago, the Indian Navy was always ready to assist its neighbour Sri Lanka whenever assistance was required.
Admiral Prakash said he and Sri Lanka’s navy chief, Vice Admiral Daya Sandagiri, would discuss ways the naval forces of the two countries could assist each other.
He refrained from making any comment on Sri Lanka’s peace process.
Asked about India’s reaction to setting ablaze of two Indian fishing trawlers in the seas of Sri Lanka’s north western coast, allegedly by the LTTE, he said it was an issue which concerns both countries and corrective measures had to be adopted by both navies to avoid such incidents.
The Indian Naval Chief who is ona four day offical visit to Sri Lanka yesterday visited his counterpart Vice Admiral Daya Sandagiri at the Navy headquarters where he was accorded a guard of honour and the two naval chiefs exchanged mementos.
He also visited the defence ministry and paid a courtesy call on Deputy Defence Minister Ratnasiiri Wickramanayake and had discussions with Defence Secretary Cyril Herath wich meeting was also attended by the newly appointed Indian High Commssioner in Sri Lanka Nirupama Rao.He also met the acting army commander and the chief of staff Major General Chual Senaviratne at the army head quarters prior to whiich he was accorded a guard of honour commanded by Major General Sisira Wijesooriya.Later he paid a courtesy calls on the President Chandrika Kumaratunga, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse and Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadiirgamar and met the Sri Lanka Air Force chief Air Marshal Donal Perera. Today Admiral Arun Prakash will visit the Eastern Naval head quarters in Trincomalee and will stay overnight at the the " Navy House " as the guest of his counterpart in Sri Lanka. Hes due to leave the country on the 16 th.
