From Pakistan, Sri Lanka is already reported to have acquired some refitted Soviet era tanks and MIG plans, as well as cartridges and augmentation charges for 81 mm mortars, and a range of unspecified'security equipment'. Sri Lanka is further seeking to acquire helicopters, VIP vehicles with B-7 protection and substantial quantities of Claymore type fragmentation devices and ammunition for its artillery. Military cooperation with Pakistan further involves the training of Sri Lankan pilots by the Pakistan Air Force. Significantly, Pakistan has been a major supplier of weapons to Sri Lanka for some time now, and in 2001 had provided a range of equipment, including Heckler and Koch G3 rifles, 120 mm heavy mortars and large quantities of ammunition.
China and Pakistan do not, of course, exhaust Sri Lanka's current efforts for military acquisitions. Russia and Israel are also significant sources, and reports suggest current efforts to acquire an unspecified number of MiG 29 Fighters from the former. India has remained a major supplier of what it describes as"defensive military equipment". Significantly, Gotabaya Rajapakse, Sri Lanka's Defence Secretary, had, on May 29, 2007, urged India to provide"urgent weapons supplies".
Nevertheless, the massive emerging dependence on Pakistan and China has had major reverberations in what Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wikremanayake described as"our very friendly country", India. India's National Security Advisor, M.K. Narayanan, on May 31, 2007, articulated thecountry's concerns, declaring bluntly: "We are the big power in this region. Let us make it very clear. We strongly believe that whatever requirements the Sri Lankangovernment has, they should come to us. And we will give them what we think is necessary. We do not favour their going to China or Pakistan or any othercountry..."