JUNE 11: Lieutenant General BKGM Lasantha Rodrigo, Commander of the Sri Lanka Army, commenced his official visit to India on 11th June 2025. The four-day visit, scheduled from 11th to 14th June, aims to further deepen bilateral military cooperation and explore fresh avenues for collaboration, especially in areas of training, capability building, and regional security. This visit reflects the enduring defence partnership between India and Sri Lanka, underscoring both nations’ commitment to maintaining regional peace and stability.
The visit began with a solemn wreath-laying ceremony at the National War Memorial in New Delhi, where Lt Gen Rodrigo paid tribute to Indian soldiers who sacrificed their lives in service to the nation. This was followed by a ceremonial Guard of Honour at the South Block Lawns, attended by senior Indian Army officials, symbolising mutual respect and longstanding friendship between the two armed forces.
Following the ceremonial events, Lt Gen Rodrigo held comprehensive discussions with Lieutenant General NS Raja Subramani, Vice Chief of the Indian Army. The two military leaders exchanged views on a broad spectrum of defence cooperation issues, including regional security dynamics. Additionally, Lt Gen Rodrigo received detailed briefings on Operation Sindoor and India’s security perspectives from senior Indian Army officers.
During his visit, Lt Gen Rodrigo also engaged with key Indian defence leadership, including Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of the Naval Staff; Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, Chief of the Air Staff; and Defence Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh. These interactions facilitated deeper dialogue on strategic defence matters of mutual interest.
As a gesture of enduring friendship, Lt Gen Rodrigo planted a tree at the Manekshaw Centre, symbolising the strong bonds between the two nations’ armies.
On 12th June, he is scheduled to visit Jaipur to meet Lieutenant General Manjinder Singh, GOC-in-C of the South Western Command. The visit will culminate on 14th June at the Indian Military Academy (IMA) in Dehradun, where Lt Gen Rodrigo, an alumnus of the 87th IMA Course (commissioned in December 1990), will serve as Reviewing Officer for the Passing Out Parade. The ceremony holds personal significance, as Brigadier RMSP Rathnayake of the Sri Lanka Army will witness his son, Foreign Officer Cadet RMNL Rathnayake, being commissioned during the event.
The visit signifies the robust and evolving defence cooperation between India and Sri Lanka, reaffirming shared interests in regional stability, training cooperation, and stronger military ties.