Lieutenant General BKGM Lasantha Rodrigo, Commander of the Sri Lanka Army, is conducting an official visit to India from June 11th to 14th, 2025. The visit aims to enhance bilateral military cooperation, particularly in training and capability enhancement, and to strengthen the defence partnership between the two nations. Activities on the first day included a wreath-laying ceremony at the National War Memorial, a Guard of Honour, and meetings with Lieutenant General NS Raja Subramani, Vice Chief of the Army Staff, Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of the Naval Staff, Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, Chief of Air Staff and Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh, Defence Secretary to discuss defence cooperation and regional security. On June 12th, the General will visit Jaipur and meet Lieutenant General Manjinder Singh. He will also attend the Passing Out Parade at the Indian Military Academy (IMA) on June 14th as the Reviewing Officer, marking a return to his alma mater. Brigadier RMSP Rathnayake of Sri Lanka Army, will also be in attendance to witness his son, Foreign Officer Cadet RMNL Rathnayake, being commissioned.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Defence: Government ministry responsible for defence matters.
LIEUTENANT GENERAL BKGM LASANTHA RODRIGO: Commander of the Sri Lanka Army.
SRI LANKA ARMY: The army of Sri Lanka.
India: Country visited by the Commander of the Sri Lanka Army.
PIB Delhi: Press Information Bureau, Delhi office.
National War Memorial: Memorial located in New Delhi, India, where Lieutenant General BKGM Lasantha Rodrigo laid a wreath.
New Delhi: Capital city of India, location of the National War Memorial.
South Block Lawns: Location where Lieutenant General BKGM Lasantha Rodrigo was given a formal Guard of Honour.
Indian Army: The army of India.
Lieutenant General NS Raja Subramani: Vice Chief of the Army Staff of the Indian Army.
Op Sindoor: An operation briefed to Lieutenant General BKGM Lasantha Rodrigo.
Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi: Chief of the Naval Staff.
Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh: Chief of Air Staff.
Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh: Defence Secretary.
Manekshaw Centre: Location where Lieutenant General BKGM Lasantha Rodrigo planted a tree.
Jaipur: City in India scheduled to be visited by Lieutenant General BKGM Lasantha Rodrigo.
Lieutenant General Manjinder Singh: General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, South Western Command.
Indian Military Academy IMA, Dehradun: Military academy where Lieutenant General BKGM Lasantha Rodrigo will be the Reviewing Officer at the Passing Out Parade.
December 1990: Month and year Lieutenant General BKGM Lasantha Rodrigo was commissioned.
87th Course of the IMA: Course attended by Lieutenant General BKGM Lasantha Rodrigo at the Indian Military Academy.
Brigadier RMSP Rathnayake: Officer of Sri Lanka Army attending the Passing Out Parade.
Foreign Officer Cadet RMNL Rathnayake: Son of Brigadier RMSP Rathnayake, being commissioned at the Indian Military Academy.
Sri Lanka: Country of origin of Lieutenant General BKGM Lasantha Rodrigo.
NA Release ID: 2135712: Release Identification number
Ministry of Defence
LIEUTENANT GENERAL BKGM LASANTHA
RODRIGO, COMMANDER OF THE SRI LANKA
ARMY ARRIVES ON A VISIT TO INDIA
Posted On: 11 JUN 2025 4:59PM by PIB Delhi
Lieutenant General BKGM Lasantha Rodrigo, Commander of the Sri Lanka Army, has arrived on an official
visit to India from 11th to 14th June 2025. This visit is set to enhance bilateral military cooperation and
explore new avenues for collaboration, particularly in the areas of training and capability enhancement. It
underscores the continued efforts of both nations to further strengthen and deepen their longstanding defence
partnership.
The first day of the visit began with a solemn wreath-laying ceremony at the National War Memorial in New
Delhi. Lieutenant General BKGM Lasantha Rodrigo paid tribute to the brave soldiers who made the ultimate
sacrifice in service to the nation.
Following the wreath-laying, Lieutenant General BKGM Lasantha Rodrigo was given a formal Guard of
Honour in the South Block Lawns. The ceremonial event, attended by senior officials of the Indian Army,
marked a significant gesture of respect and a symbol of the enduring friendship between the two nations.
The Guard of Honour was followed with a series of high-level meetings beginning with an in-depth
interaction with Lieutenant General NS Raja Subramani, Vice Chief of the Army Staff of the Indian Army.
Both the military leaders discussed wide ranging issues including aspects of bilateral defence cooperation and
regional security concerns. Later, Lieutenant General BKGM Lasantha Rodrigo was briefed on Op Sindoor
and India’s security perspective. He was also briefed by other senior officers of the Indian Army on matters of
mutual interest.
Lieutenant General BKGM Lasantha Rodrigo thereafter met with Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of the
Naval Staff, Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, Chief of Air Staff and Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh, Defence
Secretary. These meetings provided an opportunity for the exchange of views on broader defence and security
issues, focusing on matters of mutual interests.
Lieutenant General BKGM Lasantha Rodrigo also planted a tree at the Manekshaw Centre, symbolising time-
tested relation of Indian and Sri Lanka Army.
On 12th June 2025, Lieutenant General BKGM Lasantha Rodrigo is scheduled to visit Jaipur and meet
Lieutenant General Manjinder Singh, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, South Western Command.
The General Officer will grace the Passing Out Parade at the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun, as
th
the Reviewing Officer on 14 June 2025. This visit will mark a poignant return to his alma mater, where he
was commissioned in December 1990, with the 87th Course of the IMA-an experience that laid the foundation
of his illustrious military career. His presence at the Academy will rekindle memories of his formative years,
now brought full circle as he would review a new generation of officers. Adding a personal and emotional
dimension to the ceremony, Brigadier RMSP Rathnayake of Sri Lanka Army, will also be in attendance to
witness his son, Foreign Officer Cadet RMNL Rathnayake, being commissioned with the current course. This
confluence of legacy and leadership underscores the enduring spirit of camaraderie and leadership connect
between the two Armies.
Lieutenant General BKGM Lasantha Rodrigo’s visit to India is marked by a series of productive
engagements, aimed at furthering the defence relationship between Sri Lanka and India. The visit not only
highlights the commitment of both nations to strengthening their military ties but also underscores their sharedfocus on regional security and peace.
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NA
(Release ID: 2135712)