Sri Lankan army seeks officers' training in Pakistan

The Sri Lankan army has sought more training opportunities for its officers in Pakistan, in addition to the ongoing training programmes, Xinhua reported Friday.

The matter was discussed as visiting Pakistan army chief Ashfaq Parvez Kayani met his Sri Lankan counterpart General Jagath Jayasuriya at the army headquarters, said Sri Lankan army' media unit.

Discussions between both the army chiefs centred largely on military related matters of mutual interest, training and possibilities to further enhance bond of goodwill and cooperation, it added.

The discussions also focused on possibilities of further broadening bilateral understanding and goodwill among officers of both organisations.

The request for training came was made in the wake of Sri Lanka withdrawing two army officers while undergoing training in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

The two officers, who were following the Defense Services Staff Course (DSSC) in Tamil Nadu's Wellington town, returned prematurely this week following stiff opposition in the south Indian state over the training being given to them.

The Sri Lanka army had turned down an offer by India to train the two officers at another location in place of the Defense Services Staff Course (DSSC) in that town.

The army said that due to some security concerns the Indian government had offered transfering the two officers from DSSC Wellington to the Higher Defense Management Course (HDMC) in the College of Defense Management in Andhra Pradesh state.

However the Sri Lankan authorities declined to accept it as it was observed that the HDMC was not in line with the initial purpose of sending the two officers for training in India.