Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Secretary, Ministry of Defence & Urban Development, visited Malaysia from 15th to 17th April 2014 at the invitation of Dato Seri Hishammuddin bin Hussein, Minister of Defence of Malaysia, as a guest speaker at the Putrajaya Forum held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The Defence Secretary spoke on the theme, “Influence of Non-State Actors: Impact on Global Security”.
He also attended the 14th Defence Services Asia Exhibition & Conference, which was held simultaneously at the same venue, with the participation of Defence Ministers and senior defence officials and Service Commanders from more than fifty countries.
During his visit, Mr. Rajapaksa held bilateral talks with the Malaysian Minister of Defence and also paid courtesy calls on the Malaysian Prime Minister, Dato Sri Mohd. Najib bin Tun Razak, and the Minister of Federal Territories, Dato Seri Tengku Adnan bin Tangku Mansor, who is in charge of the development of Putrajaya as the federal administrative capital of Malaysia and Kuala Lumpur.
At the meeting with the Malaysian Prime Minister, the Defence Secretary conveyed the condolences of the Government and the people of Sri Lanka on the tragic incident of the missing Malaysian flight MH 370 and discussed future bilateral cooperation in many fields, including defence and security.
The Malaysian Prime Minister conveyed his warm regards and best wishes to President Mahinda Rajapaksa and recalled his recent visit to Sri Lanka to attend the 2013 CHOGM and appreciated the excellent arrangements that had been made by the Government of Sri Lanka to host the Summit.
The Malaysian Defence Minister evinced keen interest in further expanding the existing security cooperation with Sri Lanka and expressed the desirability of signing an MOU on security cooperation. The Defence Secretary explained the rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts of the Government of Sri Lanka and suggested that both countries should explore new vistas of cooperation.
Earlier, Mr Rajapaksa visited the Putrajaya Corporation and met the President of the Putrajaya Corporation, Tan Sri Dato Seri Aseh bin Haji Cha Mat and was briefed on the development programme in the Putrajaya Federal Administrative Capital of Malaysia.
During the meeting with the Minister of Federal Territories, the Defence Secretary discussed the training programmes for Sri Lankan officials in the field of urban development.
Mr Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Mrs. Ioma Rajapaksa visited the Buddhist Maha Vihara in Kuala Lumpur and paid a courtesy call on the Mahanayake of Malaysia and the Chief Incumbent of the Buddhist Maha Vihara, Ven. Dato Sri Dhammarathana Nayaka Maha Thero.
During the meetings with Malaysian dignitaries, the Defence Secretary was accompanied by the Sri Lankan High Commissioner, Ibrahim Ansar, Chief of Defence Staff, General Jagath Jayasuriya, Inspector General of Police, Mr. N.K. Illangakoon, Major General Lalith Daulagala of the Sri Lanka Army, Deputy High Commissioner, Major General Manawaduge, Rear Admiral N.K.D. Nanayakkara of the Sri Lanka Navy and Mr M. R. Lathif, Deputy Inspector General of the Sri Lanka Police.
Sri Lanka High Commission
Kuala Lumpur
18th April, 2014.
Secretary Defence addresses the Putrajaya Forum
Secretary Defence meets the Defence Minister of Malaysia
Secretary Defence meets the President of Putrajaya
Secretary Defence meets the Prime Minister of Malaysia
