The former India Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral [ADM(Ret)] Sunil Lanba was conferred Singapore’s prestigious military award, the Pingat Jasa Gemilang (Tentera) or Meritorious Service Medal (Military) [MSM(M)], by President Halimah Yacob. ADM(Ret) Lanba is the first military officer from India to receive the MSM(M). Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen presented the award to ADM(Ret) Lanba at an investiture held at the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) this morning.

ADM(Ret) Lanba was conferred the award for his outstanding contributions in enhancing the strong and long-standing bilateral defence relationship between the Indian Navy and the Republic of Singapore Navy. Under ADM(Ret) Lanba’s leadership, both navies concluded the Bilateral Agreement for Navy Cooperation in November 2017 and the Implementing Arrangement for Mutual Coordination, Logistics and Services Support in June 2018, which established the framework for greater Navy-to-Navy interactions and expanded collaboration in areas of mutual interest such as submarine rescues, maritime-security information-sharing and logistics support. With ADM(Ret) Lanba’s support, both navies also commemorated the Silver Jubilee of the Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise in 2018 and successfully conducted the inaugural Singapore-India-Thailand Maritime Exercise (SITMEX) in September 2019. These professional exchanges have strengthened interoperability, deepened mutual understanding and trust between personnel from both militaries.

On receiving the award, ADM(Ret) Lanba said, "It is an honour for me to have been awarded the MSM(M) by the Government of Singapore. India and Singapore are strategic partners and the two Navies have long enjoyed a robust relationship as maritime neighbours. The efforts during my tenure were directed to further the process of engagement and complemented the relationship between our Navies. I take great comfort in the fact that the two Navies have very consciously decided to move ahead in this direction."

ADM(Ret) Lanba, who is in Singapore from 7 to 10 September 2022, inspected the Guard of Honour at MINDEF and called on Dr Ng, Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant-General Melvyn Ong and Chief of Navy Rear-Admiral Aaron Beng.