U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE CONDUCTS ISR AIRCRAFT DEMONSTRATION TO ENHANCE SRI LANKAN MARITIME DOMAIN AWARENESS NATIONAL SECURITY CAPABILITIES
A significant training programme commenced at SLAF Base Ratmalana today (12 March 2024), facilitated through collaboration between the United States Department of Defense (DOD), the U.S. Embassy in Colombo and the Sri Lanka Air Force.
This programme will continue until 14 March 2024. The primary objective is to provide comprehensive briefings and conduct Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) flight demonstrations, with an emphasis placed on enhancing Sri Lanka’s capabilities in Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) missions.
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. Over time, this new capability will help Sri Lankan Tri-Services to better protect Sri Lanka’s marine resources, deter illicit trafficking, monitor its exclusive economic zone, and ensure the security of its seas.
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.
The event was graced by the National Security Advisor, Hon. Sagala Ratnayake, Ambassador of the United States of America in Sri Lanka, Her Excellency 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. (Air Force)