§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the military assistance he has given to the Sri Lankan Government during the last two years. [108014]
§ Mr. SpellarDuring the period 1 January 1998 to 31 January 2000 personnel from my Department have provided the following military assistance to the Sri Lankan Government
Assistance to the Sri Lankan Army in the setting up of a Command and Staff College and on syllabus development and training.Advice to the Sri Lankan Joint Operations Bureau on the concept and organisation of Joint Forces and Joint Service formations.Training and advice to the Sri Lankan Army Medical Corps on battlefield life saving measures.Advice to the Sri Lankan military on explosives ordnance disposal.Advice and engineering training on the C130 transport aircraft for 15 ground engineers and technicians from the Sri Lankan Air Force.Additionally, nine Sri Lankan military personnel have attended MOD-run professional courses in the UK. Courses attended are: The Royal Navy Young Officers Course, The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst Commissioning Course, The All Arms Drill Instructors Course, The RAF's Basic Instructional Techniques Course and The Royal College of Defence Studies Course.
MOD funded the explosives ordnance disposal advice and part funded Sri Lankan attendance on the 1999 RCDS course. All other military assistance was funded either by the Sri Lankans or the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.