Sri Lanka forces on academic visit to Manila military camps

The 14-member Sri Lankan delegation are on an academic visit to the Philippines from Sept. 2 to 13, 2019. (Photo from the Philippine Army)

MANILA, Philippines — Students from Sri Lanka’s Defense Service Command and Staff College visited some of the military camps in Metro Manila on Wednesday.

The 14-member delegation headed by Capt. Varuna Thushara Sampath Sirimanne visited the Army headquarters in Taguig City, the Navy headquarters on Roxas Boulevard in Manila; and the Air Force headquarters in Pasay City. They are on foreign academic travel in the Philippines from Sept. 2 to 13.

“The activity aims to foster bilateral training and military diplomacy through the exchange of command experiences, knowledge, and strategies of both forces in defeating insurgencies in their respective countries,” Army spokesperson Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala said in a statement.

Maj. Gen. Jesus B. Sarsagat, Army chief of staff, led a forum that tackled disaster response training, cybersecurity, civil military operations, counterterrorism strategies as well as the importance of Army, Navy, and Air Force cooperation in addressing internal and external threats.

Capt. Constancio Arturo M Reyes Jr., assistant chief of naval staff for education and training, also gave a command briefing on the organization structure and capabilities of the Navy.

The students paid a courtesy call on Maj. Gen. Pelagio Valenzuela, Air Force chief of air staff. They also given a command briefing during the visit.

In January, President Rodrigo Duterte and Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena signed a memorandum of understanding on defense and military and training and exchanges of defense and military delegations.

/atm