Secretary Defence Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa and a special delegation including Military Liaison Officer Major General (Rtd) W.P.P Fernando and DIG Keerthi Gajanayake made an official visit to the Republic of Indonesia recently, from 4th Jan 2009 till 9th Jan 2009. The visit was aimed at further strengthening bilateral defence cooperation including intelligence sharing for coordinating counter terrorist operations and exchange of training and development programs for military personnel.

The Secretary Defence's visit has further strengthened the cooperation between the two countries, especially in the areas of combined activities for countering regional and global terrorist networks and sharing of vital defence related information. The Secretary Defence's visit comes at a crucial juncture, when Sri Lankan security forces are engaged in a historic task of eradicating a three decade long terrorist cause single handedly and prevailing against all odds locally and internationally, defence observers state.  

Defence observers are of the view, that the Secretary Defence's visit will result in more cohesive and stringent actions against terrorism between the two countries.

Mr. Gotabaya Rakjapksa has also briefed the Indonesian state and military officials on current developments in Sri Lanka stating that the LTTE was on rapid retreat militarily and no longer enjoyed the goodwill of the Tamil. People had been alienated from the national democratic and development agenda for an extended period of time by the LTTE. He underlined that the current military campaign of the Sri Lankan security forces had a policy of zero civilian casualty(ZCC).

Secretary Defence Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa met with the Indonesian Vice President, H.E M.Yusuf Kalla, Foreign Minister Dr. N. Hassan Wirajuda, Secretary General of Foreign Ministry Imron Cotan, Minister of Defence Prof. Dr. Juwono Sudarsono, Secretary General of Defence Mr. Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin and few other high ranking military officials including the Indonesian three forces Commanders.