Indian Army Chief due here

16 December 2012 11:16 am

The Chief of the Army Staff of the Indian Army General Bikram Singh and a delegation of senior Indian Army officials is scheduled to visit Sri Lanka on Wednesday, the Army Headquarters said.

The visiting Indian Army Chief is scheduled to meet President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Secretary Defence, Chief of Defence Staff and three forces Commanders.

The Indian Army Commander will visit Security Force Headquarters Vavunia and the Ex Combatants' Rehabilitation Centre at Poonthottam which will be followed by a visit to Anuradhapura heritage sites.The Indian Army Chief will be the Chief Guest at the Sri Lanka Military Academy (Diyatalawa) Commissioning Parade of 157 Officer Cadets, which includes 18 female cadets. Two female cadets among them are from the Republic of Maldives.

These 157 Officer Cadets will receive their commissioning swards from the Indian Army Chief. The parade will be held on 22 Dec.

The Indian Chief is also scheduled to donate a collection of books to the Sri Lanka Military Academy library and witness the final research presentation conducted by the passing out batch of Officer Cadets on the 21st evening.

On the 23rd after visiting Kandy DaladaMaligawa and sightseeing tour of the hill country the Chief of Indian Army Staff will leave for India.

“This visit marks another important mile stone in the warm and cordial relations between the Indian and Sri Lanka armies which has endured over decades since independence,” the Army Headquarters said.