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Sri lanka orders military transport helicopters from Russia

by Suranee | May 15, 2009 at 03:25 am

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Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, Sri Lanka's Defence Secretary said he managed to reach an agreement with Russia on a loan to purchase military equipment, primarily helicopters for the air force, and other weaponry.

COLOMBO, May 15 (RIA Novosti) - Sri Lanka has ordered a number of military transport helicopters and other weaponry from Russia, the country's defense secretary said in an exclusive interview with RIA Novosti.

"I have managed to reach an agreement with Russia on a loan to purchase military equipment, primarily helicopters for the air force, and other weaponry," Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said, adding that the helicopters had been already ordered.

Although the Defence Secretary did not reveal the exact number of helicopters or did not specify the amount of the deal, the helicopters are reported to be used for transporting the military personnel.

Rajapakse was quoted as saying "We will need them in the future. We are already using [Russian-made] Mi-17 and Mi-24 helicopters, and we need more."

The report said the Defence Secretary did not specify the amount of the deal or the number of helicopters. Reportedly the helicopters are for transporting the military personnel.

"We will need them in the future. We are already using [Russian-made] Mi-17 and Mi-24 helicopters, and we need more," Rajapaksa was quoted.

Sri lanka's Defence Secretary hopes that Sri lanka and Russia could share [combat] experience which would also include help in mine clearing in the north of the country.

He added that Sri Lanka was willing to develop stronger military ties with Russia.

"We would like to bring our relations to the level where we could share [combat] experience," Rajapaksa said.

One of the areas of military cooperation could be Russia's help in mine clearing in the north of the country.

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Suranee

at 18:20 on May 15th, 2009

Yes, it is good thing that countries do work and help each other.

In the 1990's, Sri Lanka's military chief wanted to purchase weapons from Russia to fight the LTTE but the country did not have enough money to pay for the arms so the military chief offered to trade crates of tea for arms.

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — When Hamilton Wanasinghe was Sri Lanka's military chief in the early 1990s, he tried to buy desperately needed weapons from Russia to fight the Tamil Tiger rebels. Money was so short he offered to trade crates of tea for arms.

Sinhaya (not verified)

at 20:07 on May 15th, 2009

Its funny of having an article with "Sri Lanka has ordered a number of military transport helicopters and other weaponry from Russia, the country's defense secretary said in an exclusive interview with RIA Novosti." and URL Link to Russian combat helicopters :D :D :D

lalith

at 07:32 on May 17th, 2009

When Hamilton Wanasinghe was Sri Lanka's military chief in the early 1990s, he tried to buy desperately needed weapons from Russia to fight the Tamil Tiger rebels. Money was so short he offered to trade crates of tea for arms.

I need to make one point here. I do not know whether Gen. Wanasinghe gave this story to the Seattle Times or not. However,

It was during Gen. Wanasinghe's tenure as Army Commander that the LTTE was given three truckloads of T-56 and/or AK 47 weapons, on President Premadasa's advice. The trucks were driven to Habarana by Army drivers and the LTTE drivers took over the trucks, drove them somewhere, unloaded the weapons and returned the empty trucks to the military drivers. LTTE WAS ARMED during the IPKF period.

Gen. Wanasinghe did not have the backbone to say 'NO' to the President.

What is he talking about tea for arms? This is hogwash. You may clarify this from any senior Miltary officer who served under him.