US provides training to SLAF

The United States Department of Defense (DOD), and the U.S. Embassy in Colombo, is providing the Sri Lanka Air Force training on carrying out Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) flight demonstrations, with an emphasis placed on enhancing Sri Lanka’s capabilities in Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) missions, the Air Force said in a statement.

The programme commenced on 12 March, at the SLAF Base, Ratmalana, and ends today (14)

The initiative aims to enhance Sri Lanka’s maritime domain awareness capabilities, provide training to SLAF pilots and Sri Lanka’s Tri-Services involved in maritime surveillance in preparation for future engagement opportunities with the United States and strengthen interoperability and relations between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Government of the United States to promote a more safe and prosperous Indo-Pacific region, the Air Force said.

The ISR Demonstration will help to establish the requisite infrastructure and support for future training and cooperation with the SLAF, including joint security exercises, MDA initiatives, and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations, ultimately encouraging greater interoperability between the United States Department of Defense and the Sri Lanka Tri-Services.

National Security Advisor, Sagala Ratnayake, Ambassador of the United States of America in Sri Lanka, Julie Chung, Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera, Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Udeni Rajapaksa, Chief of Staff, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Wickremaratne, Director General Planning, Air Vice Marshal Bandu Edirisinghe, senior officers from Air Force and Navy and officials from the U.S. Embassy attended the opening ceremoney on Tuesday (12).