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US Pacific Commander arrives in Jaffna on two-day visit

[TamilNet, Friday, 11 June 2004, 10:34 GMT]
United States Commander for Pacific Region, Lieutenant General James L. Campbell, currently on a visit to strengthen relationship between Sri Lanka and the U.S., Friday morning arrived in Palaly Sri Lanka Army (SLA) military base and held discussions with the Commander of Sri Lanka Northern region Major General Susil Chandrapala and other senior SLA officers, security sources said.

Later Lt. General James Campbell visited the military bases in Kankesanthurai and Karainagar by special helicopter of the Sri Lanka Air Force, sources said.

The American General is reported to have visited some SLA forward defence lines in the high security zones. However these visits could not be officially confirmed.

General Campbell will leave Jaffna Saturday, sources in Jaffna said.

Lt. Gen. Campbell who arrived in Colombo was received with military parade at the Sri Lanka Military Head quarters in Colombo Thursday afternoon.

Commander of Sri Lanka Security Forces, Lt.Gen Lionel Balagalle met with Lt. Gen. Campell at the Head Quarters Thursday for discussions centering on strengthening military cooperation, sources in Colombo said.

General Campbell has held a variety of command and staff positions in the U.S. Army. He has also served as the Commander of the United Nations Quick Reaction Force in Somalia, as the Director of the Multinational Force Staff in Haiti and the Commander of Multinational Division (North) in Bosnia.