The Defence Attaché of the Chinese embassy in Colombo called on the Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy at Navy Headquarters on Friday, in a courtesy visit that both sides used to discuss naval cooperation.
Senior Colonel Fu Xiao, Defence Attaché of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, met Vice Admiral Damian Fernando and congratulated him on assuming office, Ada Derana reported. Hiru News noted that Fernando is the 27th Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy.
The two sides then held what both outlets described as cordial discussions on matters of bilateral importance, including cooperation between the Sri Lankan and Chinese navies. Mementoes were exchanged to mark the occasion.
A familiar pattern
The meeting follows a well-established sequence of introductory calls on a new service chief. Fernando took over as Navy Commander in July, and foreign defence representatives have been calling on him since — the Japanese Defence Attaché, Commander KUBO Takayuki, did so in August, also conveying best wishes on the appointment. Fernando separately discussed defence cooperation with India in late August.
Fu Xiao has been active across the Sri Lankan services this year. He called on the Army Commander in June, and later that month met Deputy Defence Minister Aruna Jayasekara for talks that touched on maritime cooperation.
Not reported
Neither outlet set out what specific areas of naval cooperation were discussed, whether any training, port call or equipment arrangement was raised, or whether the meeting was tied to a forthcoming visit or exercise. Neither the Navy nor the Chinese embassy issued a statement beyond the meeting readout, and no other verified newsroom had carried the meeting at the time of writing.
