Colombo-based Defence Advisers Receive Updates from NOCPCO Head on Sri Lanka’s Fight against COVID-19

A consortium of Defence Attaches/Advisers from nine foreign missions in Sri Lanka (21) called on Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva, Head of the National Operation Centre for Prevention of COVID -19 Outbreak (NOCPCO), Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army at the Army HQ in order to receive a comprehensive update on the status quo as regards the COVID-19 outbreak in Sri Lanka.

Group Captain Sean Unwin, Defence Adviser of Australian High Commission, Commodore Syed M. Hakim, Defence Adviser of Bangladesh High Commission,Captain Cikas Sood, Defence Adviser, of High Commission of India, Captain Gaku Fukaura, Defence / Security Attache, Embassy of Japan, Lt Col Ismail Naseer, Defence Adviser, High Commission of Maldives, Colonel Sajjad Ali, Defence Adviser of High Commission of Pakistan, Colonel Denis I. Shkoda, Military Air & Naval Attache, Embassy of the Russian Federation, Colonel Daved A. Ashman, Defence Adviser of High Commission of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Lt Col Travis Ray Cox, Defence & Army Attache, Embassy of the United States of America during this special meeting listened to the Head, NOCPCO where a multimedia presentation summed up hitherto accomplished national tasks, preventive and precautionary measures, conduct of quarantine procedures and centres, management of risky and infected groups, challenges and setbacks, improvements and future forecasts, post COVID-19 issues, international impact, role of tri service medical personnel and future challenges ahead, etc.

The US Defence & Army in return expressed his thankfulness for inviting them for a fruitful discussion of this nature, despite the Commander's hectic schedules and commended the armed forces of Sri Lanka for their distinguished roles in the fight against COVID-19. Similarly, the Bangladesh Defence Adviser shared views on the passage of different food varieties along the streets during curfew hours and the strategic approaches of the armed forces. Lieutenant General Silva also requested all those envoys to contact him at any time of the day for more information on the status quo if they so desire since he is always ready to cooperate with them as a ‘military officer' in uniforms.

The meeting has been facilitated at the request of the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Foreign Relations. Brigadier Harendra Ranasingha, Director Operations and Brigadier Kapila Dolage, Coordinator Plans, NOCPCO were also associated with the meet at the Commander's office.