May 15, Colombo: Sri Lanka has ordered a number of military transport helicopters and other weaponry from Russia, Russia's RIA Novosti news agency said today quoting Sri Lanka's Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa.

The Russian state-owned news agency reported that the Defence Secretary in an exclusive interview has said that the helicopters had been already ordered.

"I have managed to reach an agreement with Russia on a loan to purchase military equipment, primarily helicopters for the air force, and other weaponry," Novosti quoted Gotabhaya Rajapaksa.

The report said the Defence Secretary did not specify the amount of the deal or the number of helicopters. Reportedly the helicopters are for transporting the military personnel.

"We will need them in the future. We are already using [Russian-made] Mi-17 and Mi-24 helicopters, and we need more," Rajapaksa was quoted.

According to RIA Novosti the Sri Lankan official has indicated that Sri Lanka was willing to develop stronger military ties with Russia and to share combat experience. Defence Secretary has noted that Russia could help the mine clearing operations in the North.

Russia, which has fought a separatist war against the Chechen rebels and shares the common experience of terrorism with Sri Lanka, is a valuable diplomatic partner to Sri Lanka in its war against the LTTE terrorism.