Jun 12, Colombo: The Commander of Sri Lanka Navy Vice Admiral D W A S Dissanayake along with a delegation of four members is currently on an official visit to Pakistan.

The Sri Lankan Navy Commander is visiting Pakistan from 11 - 16 June 2012 on an invitation extended by Pakistan Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Mohammad Asif Sandila, a statement released by the High Commission of Pakistan in Colombo said.

During his stay Vice Admiral Dissanayake will visit various Naval Establishments in Karachi including the ship and small crafts manufacturing factories, Naval War College at Lahore and the equipment manufacturing industries at Taxila.

A formal reception will also be held in his honour at the Naval Headquarters in Islamabad.

Vice Admiral Dissanayake will be holding talks with his counterpart in Islamabad for future collaboration between both the navies. He will also call on the Defence Minister of Pakistan and Chairman JCSC General Khalid Shameem Wynne during the visit.

The visit of Sri Lanka Navy Commander is of immense importance especially after the war is over in Sri Lanka and there is a requirement to build on relations of strategic value between the two friendly countries in the new and developing regional environment, the High Commission statement said.

Since independence, Sri Lanka and Pakistan have consistently maintained close, cordial and mutually supportive relations especially in the field of defense. Both nations have assisted each other during testing times in their histories.

Pakistan and Sri Lanka have comprehensive and mutually beneficial training collaboration for Army, Navy and Air Force. Over a period of time, a strong bond of commitment and mutual understanding has been reached between both the friendly armed forces. In future too, both the brotherly countries are expected to work more closely in the field of defence to boost peace efforts in the region.