Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of Australia meets Commander of the Navy

A high-level Australian delegation, led by Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister of Australia, Hon. Richard Marles, met with the Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Kanchana Banagoda on 03 Jun 25 at the Navy Headquarters, Colombo.

The visiting Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of Australia was welcomed according a Guard of Honour in precision with naval traditions. Thereupon, he engaged in a cordial discussion with the Commander of the Navy, on several matters of bilateral importance.

The Secretary of the Department of Defence, Australia, Mr.Gregory Laurence Moriarty, the Australian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, H.E. Paul Stephens, the Defence Advisor to the Australian High Commission in Colombo, Colonel Amanda Johnston, Senior Advisor to Deputy Prime Minister, Mr. Simon Eric O’Connor and Assistant Secretary North & South Asia, Ms. Karen Radford were present on this occasion.

Additionally, the Australian delegation received updates on Maritime Domain Awareness and hydrographic operations, with both sides discussing key challenges and opportunities in these areas. The event drew to a close with an exchange of mementoes, signifying the importance of the visit.

The discussion was joined by the Chief of Staff of the Navy, senior officers from the Navy’s Board of Management, Commander Western Naval Area, Commander Southern Naval Area and Chief Hydrographer of the Navy as well as senior officers from the Navy Headquarters.