General Shavendra Silva, the Chief of Defence Staff of Sri Lanka, embarked on a highly productive visit to Kenya at the invitation of the Ministry of Defence of Kenya.
This visit, aimed at promoting Sri Lanka on various fronts, marked a significant milestone in enhancing defence relations between the two countries.
General Silva’s visit to Kenya holds historical significance as he is the first Chief of Defence Staff of Sri Lanka to ever visit the country. This visit aligns with President Ranil Wickremesinghe’ s vision to expand overall diplomatic relations, including
defence ties, with Africa. In line with this strategic vision, General Silva is scheduled to visit other countries, aimed at promoting defence relations across the African continent.
During his stay, General Silva engaged in fruitful discussions with Kenya’s defence establishment, focusing on strengthening defence cooperation between Sri Lanka and Kenya. The positive outcomes of these interactions pave the way for enhanced collaboration in the future.
The Sri Lankan business community in Kenya had the privilege of meeting General Shavendra Silva, who received invitations to tour their business facilities.
However, due to time constraints, General Shavendra Silva, accompanied by High Commissioner Kananathan, could only manage to visit one establishment. They visited Mas Intimates, a premier apparel industry in Kenya that employs over 4000 Kenyan workers.
High Commissioner Kananathan underscored the paramount importance of General Shavendra Silva’s interaction with the expatriate community. The High Commissioner added that the visit to Mas Intimates not only offered valuable insights into Sri Lankan investments in Kenya but also significantly enhanced visibility, thereby contributing significantly to the growing economic relations between the two countries.
General Silva’s visit to Kenya demonstrated Sri Lanka’s commitment to strengthening defence ties with African countries, setting the stage for mutually beneficial partnerships to flourish in the future.
