The 6th Pakistan–Sri Lanka Armed Forces Defence Dialogue concluded successfully on 03 July at the Navy Headquarters within the Defence Headquarters Complex in Sri Jayawardanepura, Kotte, according to officials involved in the meeting. The annual bilateral engagement brought together senior defence officials from both countries to review ongoing cooperation and discuss potential new areas of collaboration.
The dialogue was co-chaired by Sri Lanka’s Defence Secretary, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd), and Pakistan’s Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, Lieutenant General Muhammad Ali (Retd). Senior military officials and representatives from the armed forces and defence ministries of both Sri Lanka and Pakistan participated in the proceedings, which were held as part of structured bilateral defence consultations between the two countries.
Officials stated that the discussions covered a wide range of defence-related matters of mutual interest. These included defence cooperation frameworks, military-to-military engagement, training programmes, professional military education initiatives, maritime security, counterterrorism cooperation, capacity building efforts, and broader regional security considerations. The dialogue was described by participants as a platform for reviewing existing areas of collaboration while also identifying new avenues for engagement.
During the opening session, Sri Lanka’s Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd) expressed appreciation for Pakistan’s continued support in strengthening the professional capabilities of the Sri Lanka Armed Forces. He reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s commitment to further developing defence ties with Pakistan, stating that such cooperation was intended for the mutual benefit of both countries and for supporting regional peace and stability. He also noted that the Armed Forces Defence Dialogue functions as an important mechanism for assessing ongoing cooperation and exploring additional areas for collaboration.
Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd) also conveyed gratitude to the Pakistani delegation on behalf of the President and the Government of Sri Lanka, according to officials present at the session. His remarks highlighted the importance placed by Sri Lanka on maintaining structured defence engagement with Pakistan through the annual dialogue framework.
Pakistan’s Secretary of Defence, Lieutenant General Muhammad Ali (Retd), also addressed the meeting and expressed appreciation for the hospitality extended by the Government of Sri Lanka to the visiting delegation. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to further strengthening what he described as a longstanding defence partnership between the two countries. His comments were made during discussions focused on sustaining and expanding bilateral military cooperation.
The meeting was attended by Pakistan High Commissioner Major General Nayyar Naseer (Retd), Sri Lanka’s Additional Secretary (Defence), commanders of the Sri Lanka Navy and Air Force, the Army Chief of Staff, senior officials of the Ministry of Defence, and senior officers from the tri-services of Sri Lanka. Officials confirmed that the presence of high-ranking representatives from both sides underscored the institutional importance attached to the dialogue.
The conclusion of the 6th edition of the Pakistan–Sri Lanka Armed Forces Defence Dialogue marks the continuation of an established annual framework aimed at maintaining defence communication between the two countries, with discussions expected to feed into future cooperation initiatives across multiple military and security domains.
