AUSTRALIAN MARITIME BOARDER COMMANDER REAR ADMIRAL JUSTIN JONES AND REAR ADMIRAL BRETT SONTER VISITED SRI LANKA COAST GUARD

An Australian delegation headed by the Commander Joint Agency Task Force – Operations Sovereign Boarders, Rear Admiral Justin Jones CSC, RAN and the Deputy Director Maritime Operations for the Commander of US Pacific Fleet, Rear Admiral Brett Sonter, RAN visited Sri Lanka Coast Guard (SLCG) Rear Headquarters, Wellawatte on 12^thDecember 2023.

The Director General Sri Lanka Coast Guard (DGCG), Rear Admiral Pujitha Vithana, USP, ndu warmly welcomed the delegation. Rear Admiral Jones is scheduled to leave from his present position in January 2024 and he introduced Rear Admiral Brett Sonter who is going to take over his position. Both parties discussed about the importance of the partnership of the two leading organizations to minimize maritime crimes and human smuggling. The DGCG highly appreciated for the assistance the Australian Government delivered to SLCG so far.

On this occasion, Rear Admiral Justin Jones handed over 20 computers to SLCG under the capacity building programme of Australian Border Force and the Department of Home Affairs.

These computers will be utilized to improve the training facilities of SLCG. The Regional Director Western Region and the Commanding Officer SLCG Waruna Captain Kelum Marambage also attended to the occasion.