By Shamindra Ferdinando
A high level Czech Republic delegation led by Defence Minister Vladimir Vetchy will arrive in Colombo today for three days of talks aimed at further improving relations between the two countries, foreign and defence ministry officials said yesterday.

The visit would be the first by a Czech Republic Defence Minister, they said adding that Vetchy would be accompanied by three Major Generals and Ivan Jestrab, the New Delhi based Czech ambassador accredited to Sri Lanka.

Czech supplied Multi Barrel Rocket Launchers [MBRLs] played a crucial role in halting LTTE’s advance on Jaffna and then forcing terrorists out of the 140 square km salient they held near the town in a series of offensives beginning September last year. "Crisis" purchases made soon after the fall of the strategic Elephant Pass base in April last year, sharply increased government’s fire power. President Chandrika Kumaratunga sent Minister Mangala Samaraweera to Prague especially to thank the Czech leadership for promptly responding to her call for help during the Jaffna crisis.

Officials said that the Defence Minister’s visit will further enhance relations between the two countries.

Lieutenant General Jiri Sedivy, Chief of the General Staff of the Czech Republic armed forces, a highly decorated officer who was involved in NATO operations in East Europe visited Colombo last month.

A top level delegation from the privately owned Prague headquartered firm, MPi that supplied Sri Lanka with MBRLs, main battle tanks, bridge laying vehicles and tank recovery vehicles among other armaments following last year’s Elephant Pass debacle was also in Colombo last month. Michael Smrz, MPi director and administrator in an interview with The Island last month said that they had been supplying the security forces since 1994 but as a result of last year’s developments in the Jaffna peninsula, MPi has increased its role here.

MPi comes under the ministry of Industries and Trade.

Defence sources said acquisition of Czech built T-55 AM2 main battle tanks [armoured fighting vehicles] has enhanced armoured corps firepower. More T-55 AM2s were expected to reach here in two stages within the next eight to ten weeks, the sources said. The army was expected to take delivery of an undisclosed number of MBRLs in next few weeks time, the sources said adding that all these purchases had been made through MPi.

The MPi was planning to maintain adequate spares for Czech supplied "weapons systems" here and also send in regular "technical" groups to Colombo as part of the efforts to guarantee continued support for the military effort in the north.

Czech Republic, formerly a key member of the then USSR dominated Warsaw Pact, joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation [NATO] some time ago.

Defence sources said that the 19-member NATO have strict rules on the deployment of forces and equipment. In view of this the Czech Republic, one of the three East European countries that joined the NATO has started selling their standard Warsaw Pact arms, ammunition and equipment.