Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd) held discussions with Russian Deputy Defence Minister Vasily Osmakov in Moscow this week, as Sri Lanka and Russia continued engagements on defence cooperation and regional security matters.
The meeting took place on May 26 during the Defence Secretary’s official visit to the Russian Federation, where he is participating in the 1st International Forum on Security and the Annual Meeting of High Representatives for Security Issues taking place from May 26 to 29.
According to officials, the discussions focused on regional and global security developments, while both sides reaffirmed the importance of maintaining cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
Military-technical cooperation, training exchanges and capacity-building initiatives were among the key areas discussed during the meeting, reflecting ongoing defence-level engagement between the two countries. Such cooperation is often viewed as important for strengthening technical expertise, operational knowledge and long-term institutional ties between defence establishments.
The two sides also discussed matters relating to former Sri Lankan military personnel currently serving in the Russian Federation, an issue that has periodically attracted public and diplomatic attention in recent months.
Sri Lanka’s participation in international security forums of this nature also highlights the country’s continued engagement with global and regional defence dialogue platforms at a time when geopolitical and security issues remain increasingly interconnected.
Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Russia Shobini Gunasekara, Counsellor Mihiravi Dissanayake and Counsellor (Defence) Air Commodore Dinesh Kasagala were also present during the discussions.
Last modified: May 28, 2026
