Chief of Army Staff of the Pakistan Army (COAS), General Qamar Javed Bajwa, heralding a new era of goodwill, understanding and military co-operation, arrived in Sri Lanka on Monday evening at the invitation of his Sri Lanka’s counterpart, Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake.
He is expected to pay courtesy calls on President Maithripala Sirisena, the Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, State Minister of Defence, Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Chief of Defence Staff and Commanders of the Navy and Air Force, the Army said.
His delegation is comprised of the spouse of General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Mrs Ayesha Amjad Begum. Brigadier Iftikar Hassan Chauhadary, Personal Secretary to COAS, Mrs Nazia Iftikhar, Begum of PA (C) to COAS, Lieutenant Colonel Asif Hashmat and Captain Kashan Saeeed.
General Qamar Javed Bajwa will be honoured at the Army Headquarters in a Guard Turnout and a special Guard of Honor salute before he formally calls on the Commander of the Army at the Commander's office for formal exchange of views.
During his stay in Sri Lanka, General Bajwa will hold discussions on matters of professional interests with his counterpart Senanayake, the Pakistan High Commission in Colombo said.
A get together of serving Pakistan Staff College and National Defense University qualified Sri Lankan army officers is being arranged during the visit to provide opportunity among alumni members of prestigious Pakistan Military institutions to interact with COAS of Pakistan Army.