Australian ships in Sri Lanka for defence engagement programme

Australia and Sri Lanka have pledged to deepen maritime security cooperation in the Indian Ocean as an Australian Joint Task Group comprised of Navy, Army and Air Force arrived here on Sunday to take part in a defence engagement programme.

HMAS Canberra, the flagship vessel of the Royal Australian Navy, and HMAS Newcastle arrived at the Colombo port on to take part in a defence engagement programme with Sri lanka under the Indo Pacific Endeavour 2019 (IPE -19). This is Australia's largest ever defence engagement with Sri Lanka.

The Australian embassy officials here said over 1,000 personnel on four vessels have arrived in Colombo and the eastern port of Trincomalee.

Australian and Sri Lankan defence forces will work together on disaster assistance planning, naval manoeuvres and military training activities to improve cooperation, familiarity and interoperability before the ships depart on March 30, sailing for India.

Jon Philp, the acting Australian High Commissioner said, Australia has always been an Indian Ocean nation. With increasing interconnectedness and dynamism in our region, Australia is committed to strengthening cooperation with Sri Lanka to ensure a stable, secure, ruled-based order where all countries benefit from continued growth.

As Indo-Pacific nations, Australia and Sri Lanka are working together on the continuation of a rules-based regional order, where the Indian Ocean remains free, open and inclusive.

Philp said: Australia's vision for the region is characterised by cooperation, respect for rules and norms, transparency, economic sustainability and mutual respect. Sri Lanka is a partner of choice for Australia as we work together to embed a commitment to international law and unimpeded trade flows.