Sri Lankan Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd) held a bilateral discussion with the Chief of the NATO Military Committee, Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, on 31 August (2026) on the sidelines of the Chiefs of Defence Conference in Victoria, Canada.
The Defence Secretary is on an official visit to Canada to attend the CHOD Conference. The Defence Secretary outlined Sri Lanka’s requirements and areas of interest, including the modernisation and revamping of military hardware, acquisition of advanced technologies, enhancement of cyber capabilities and surveillance platforms, as well as opportunities for greater technical cooperation.
The discussion also focused on strengthening cooperation through the exchange of military personnel, expanded military education and training programmes, and enhanced sharing of expertise and information. The Defence Secretary further highlighted the opportunities for cooperation in Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), including the exchange of expertise and the effective use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in disaster response and related operations.
The Defence Secretary invited NATO to further enhance engagement and cooperation with Sri Lanka, emphasising the importance of sustained dialogue, information sharing and practical cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
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