COLOMBO(News 1st) – The 83rd birthday of Lalith Athulathmudali was celebrated yesterday at the BMICH.

The event saw the participation of former first lady, Shiranthi Rajapaksa, Ravi Karunanayake, Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Taranjit Singh Sandhu and several other dignitaries

H.E. Taranjit Singh Sandhu, Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka:

“First and foremost, national security and defence are like air, without it you cannot survive but when you have it, you take it for granted. Like air, security cannot be compartmentalized it is all-pervasive, it is a global common.

National security goes beyond the physical securing of one’s own borders. If the region and the world are in turmoil, you will agree with me we cannot remain safe. It is heartening to note that India and Sri Lanka have strong cooperation in the fields of defence and security.

We have been sharing our equipment and expertise with Sri Lanka, we are also ready to do more. We have conducted joint missions in the recent past to apprehend vessels carrying drugs.

Discussions are also underway to enhance cybersecurity cooperation. You will be surprised that Sri Lanka gets the largest share of our military training slots. In fact, more than 50% of all foreign military training slots go to Sri Lanka today.”

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