Colombo - Sri Lanka has expressed gratitude to India for their assistance in safeguarding the nation's airspace and maritime territory, including its exclusive economic zone, through maritime and coastal surveillance activities. The acknowledgment was made by Sagala Ratnayaka, Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe's senior Advisor on National Security, during the handover of a successor Indian Navy Dornier aircraft to the Sri Lanka Air Force.

The maritime surveillance aircraft, Donier-228, is a replacement for the one given by the Indian government to Sri Lanka a year ago. The Dornier had to be returned to India for scheduled maintenance.

The acquisition of the Dornier aircraft was a result of bilateral discussions in January 2018, where India agreed to provide the aircraft to Sri Lanka free of cost for a period of two years. Ratnayaka appreciated India's support, particularly during Sri Lanka's financial crisis last year, emphasizing the need for both countries to collaborate to ensure each other's safety.

Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Gopal Baglay, highlighted India's commitment to capacity building and sustained development of Sri Lanka's defense forces, aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of 'Security and Growth for All in the Region' (SAGAR). He noted that this partnership will continue with Sri Lanka's future acquisition of additional Dornier aircraft with Indian assistance.

The Indian Navy Dornier deployed last year significantly contributed to maritime reconnaissance and search-and-rescue missions in Sri Lanka, strengthening cooperation between the two nations. The Indian High Commission emphasized that securing the seas through the induction of this aircraft aligns with India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy, fostering peace and progress between the two countries.