India's 'strategic' Dornier gift for Lankan as Chinese ship nears Hambantota

• India hands over the indigenously made Dornier maritime reconnaissance aircraft to Sri Lankan Air Force. The move comes just ahead of the arrival of Chinese vessel Yuan Wang 5 at the island nation’s Hambantota port. Hailing the bilateral ties between the two countries, the Indian government said that India’s gift is timely in view of the challenges to Sri Lanka’s maritime security. The aircraft was handed over during a special event held at the Sri Lankan Air Force base at Katunayake. Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe, the Indian Navy’s vice chief, Vice Admiral SN Ghormade and Indian envoy Gopal Baglay attended the event which coincided with the celebration of India’s 75th anniversary of independence. Watch this report for more details.