Vij in Lanka for talks on defence deal

Army Chief General N.C. Vij left for Sri Lanka Monday morning for high-level talks with the Defence top brass there — as a precursor to the India-Sri Lanka Defence Cooperation Agreement, expected to be signed later this month.

Last month, an Indian delegation headed by MoD Additional Secretary Ranjit Issar had visited Colombo and held talks with a Sri Lankan contingent headed by Defence Secretary Cyril Herath. It was during this visit that the draft agreement was finalised.

Gen Vij is expected to hold talks with Sri Lankan Army Commander Lt Gen Shantha Kottegoda and other top political and Defence officials. He will also be visiting certain Sri Lankan military facilities on Tuesday.