Sri Lanka Army chief Lieutenant General BKGM Lasantha Rodrigo reviews POP at IMA (Photo: Indian Army)
New Delhi: Lieutenant General BKGM Lasantha Rodrigo, commander of the Sri Lanka Army, reviewed the passing out parade of newly commissioned officers at the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun, on Saturday – returning to the same parade ground where he graduated in December 1990 as part of the 87th Course.
The ceremony formed part of Rodrigo’s four-day official visit to India from June 11 to 14, focused on strengthening defence cooperation between the two nations through training programmes and capability enhancement initiatives.
Sri Lankan Officer Commissioned
Among the graduating officers was Foreign Officer Cadet RMNL Rathnayake, who was commissioned into the Sri Lanka Army. His father, Brigadier RMSP Rathnayake of the Sri Lanka Army, conducted the ceremonial “pipping” procedure, formally conferring his son’s rank.
This commissioning brings the total number of Sri Lankan officers trained at IMA to 296, reflecting the extent of India's military training partnerships with regional allies.
Official Engagements
During his visit, Lt Gen Rodrigo is meeting with the chiefs of the Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force, alongside other senior military and civilian officials. His itinerary includes visits to key military establishments across the country.
The Ministry of Defence stated that the visit demonstrates both nations’ commitment to expanding their defence cooperation, built upon established partnerships and regional security considerations.
Defence Partnership Framework
India and Sri Lanka maintain regular defence exchanges, including Exercise Mitra Shakti, a bilateral training programme concentrating on counterinsurgency and counterterrorism operations. India provides military training for personnel from several Indian Ocean littoral states, including Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Mauritius, and Seychelles.
The IMA regularly trains officer candidates from Asian and African nations as part of India’s broader military cooperation strategy in the region.
