Indo-Lanka tie up on the cards to undertake small arms production

State Minister of Defence Premitha Bandara Tennakoon yesterday said that the government has commenced talks with India to set up a small arms manufacturing unit in Sri Lanka.

Tennakoon told the media that the government was in the process of discussing a joint venture on the military and defence industry front with India.

The Minister said that the Lankan military has the expertise for manufacturing weapons. “We are already doing it, but currently on a small scale.  We are in touch with our Indian counterparts. We can also do wonders with their help. Discussions in this regard are ongoing,” he said.

“India and Sri Lanka military-to-military connectivity is good and at a high level. India’s manufacturing arm has boomed during the last two decades. It is a model Sri Lanka has to look into, as we can learn a lot from it,” he said.