At a ceremony held today (Oct. 10) at Sri Lanka Air Force Base Katunayake, U.S. Navy Admiral Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, officially handed over a Beechcraft King Air 360ER aircraft, gifted by the United States, to the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF).

The event, attended by U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung, Secretary to the Ministry of Defense Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd), and Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force Air Marshal Udeni Rajapaksa, marked the handover of this advanced aircraft – a symbol of the enduring U.S.-Sri Lanka partnership and a crucial step in strengthening Sri Lanka’s maritime security and sovereignty.  

Equipped with cutting-edge surveillance technology, the King Air will strengthen Sri Lanka’s ability to patrol its waters, counter maritime threats, and secure vital trade routes in the Indian Ocean.

U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung emphasized the importance of the King Air aircraft, highlighting it as a testament to the strong U.S.-Sri Lanka partnership and Sri Lanka’s role in ensuring peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region: “As partners, the United States shares Sri Lanka’s vision that security is a collective responsibility, as our seas connect us. Maritime domain awareness is crucial to safeguarding Sri Lanka’s maritime trade routes, which are the lifeblood of its economy. While the oceans are rich in economic opportunities, they are also vulnerable to significant threats — from illegal fishing to smuggling, human trafficking, and other illegal, coercive, and deceitful activities. It is my hope that this Beechcraft King Air will serve as a constant guardian of your nation’s peace and prosperity, always vigilant in defending what is rightfully yours.”

 Air Marshal Udeni Rajapaksa, Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force, welcomed the Beechcraft King Air 360ER aircraft as a significant milestone of the longstanding partnership between Sri Lanka and the United States. “The induction of the Beechcraft King Air 360ER aircraft is one of the instrumental steps in augmenting the Air Force’s airpower for maritime domain awareness,” he stated. “This substantiates our enhanced focus on ensuring maritime security and broadening HADR capabilities in the Indian Ocean Region as a responsible and key stakeholder nation. Further, this advanced ISR platform will be the latest addition to the ongoing efforts of fostering collective security and interoperability to face the threats in the air and maritime domains and curb transnational crime in our region. We look forward to playing a greater role in the regional maritime domain awareness, particularly in maritime surveillance, monitoring and patrolling whilst fulfilling our obligations to regional peace and security.”

Admiral Steve Koehler reaffirmed U.S. commitment to regional security and partnership with Sri Lanka, stating: “Today’s ceremony is about much more than one aircraft, it’s about our two nation’s commitment to protecting sovereignty and addressing complex maritime challenges together in the Indian Ocean. I look forward to strengthening our partnership and advancing a shared vision for peace and stability by upholding the rules based international order.”

The King Air, funded by the U.S. Department of Defense’s Building Partner Capacity program, was manufactured by Beechcraft Textron Aviation and completed in 2022, with maritime surveillance upgrades added in 2024. Sri Lanka Air Force personnel received specialized training in Kansas and Florida to operate the aircraft, and further training will be conducted by U.S. government personnel over the next three months. The King Air 360ER will undergo final preparations at the Ratmalana Air Force Base before joining Maritime Patrol Squadron 3 in China Bay, Trincomalee.

Several ambassadors have called on President Anura Kumara Dissanayaka today (Oct. 09).

Meeting the President, Vatican Ambassador to Sri Lanka – Most Reverend Dr. Brian Udaigwe congratulated President Dissanayake on his recent election victory, conveying heartfelt greetings from His Holiness Pope Francis.

The Vatican Ambassador also lauded President Dissanayake’s initiative to conduct transparent and credible investigations into the tragic Easter Sunday bombings. Dr. Udaigwe assured the fullest cooperation of the Vatican in supporting the President’s ongoing efforts to bring justice and healing to the victims and their families.

Meanwhile, Korean Ambassador to Sri Lanka – Ms. Miyon Lee also paid a courtesy call on President Dissanayake.

Ambassador Lee reaffirmed South Korea’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with Sri Lanka, highlighting the long-standing ties between the two nations. Noting that South Korea ranks sixth in foreign remittances to Sri Lanka, the Ambassador pledged to increase remittances by creating more employment opportunities for Sri Lankans in South Korea.

The Ambassador also assured economic assistance to Sri Lanka, sharing that South Korea had faced similar economic challenges in the past and that Sri Lanka could benefit from Korea’s experience in overcoming them. Discussions centered around addressing rural poverty in Sri Lanka, with investments from the Korean Exim Bank being considered as a key driver of development.

Further support was pledged in the areas of healthcare, anti-corruption measures, and climate change mitigation. Ambassador Lee also emphasized South Korea’s willingness to expand Korean language education in Sri Lanka to better equip Sri Lankans seeking employment in Korea.

In addition, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake met with Swiss Ambassador – Ms. Siri Walt, who pledged Switzerland’s support for Sri Lanka’s anti-corruption initiatives and efforts to boost Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), tourism, and employment opportunities through labor migration.

The Sri Lankan President had also met with the German Ambassador – Mr. Felix Neumann, who had pledged Germany’s support for Sri Lanka in human resource development, improving technical education, and boosting government efficiency. Looking forward to exploring new trade and labour opportunities and enhancing our partnership.

The Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy Sail Training Warship ‘PO LANG’ arrived at the port of Colombo on a formal visit this morning (Oct. 08).

The visiting ship was welcomed by the Sri Lanka Navy in compliance with naval traditions.
‘PO LANG’ is a 86-meter-long Sail Training Vessel crewed by 130 personnel including 35 Officer Cadets.

Meanwhile, the Commanding Officer of the ship, Commander Ma Wenyong is scheduled to call on the Commander Western Naval Area, Rear Admiral Chinthaka Kumarasinghe at the Western Naval Command Headquarters today. 

To strengthen the camaraderie between the two navies, crew members of the ship are set to participate in a series of programmes organized by the Sri Lanka Navy.
In addition crew members of the ship will explore some of the tourist attractions of the country, during their stay in Colombo. Additionally, Sri Lanka Navy personnel will have the opportunity to participate in briefings on the operational functions of the ships as well.

Concluding the formal visit, ‘PO LANG’ will depart the island on 11th October.

(Pics – navy.lk)

Related News :