HANDING OVER CEREMONY OF US GOVERNMENT GRANT EQUIPMENT TO SRI LANKAN MILITARY
1:09pm on Monday 27th March 2023
The Handing-Over Ceremony of US Government Grant Equipment to the Sri Lankan Military was conducted today (27 March 2023) at SLAF Base Katunayake, in line with the 75th Anniversary of US-Sri Lankan Diplomacy. The ceremony was conducted under the patronage of the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana, and the Ambassador to the United States in Sri Lanka, Her Excellency Julie Chung.
The event began with the arrival of the Director of Air Operations, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Wickramaratne, at the No. 02 Squadron Hangar premises. The proceedings commenced with an address by the Defence Attaché at the Embassy of the United States in Sri Lanka, Lieutenant Colonel Tony Anthony.
The event began with the arrival of the Director of Air Operations, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Wickramaratne, at the No. 02 Squadron Hangar premises. The proceedings commenced with an address by the Defence Attaché at the Embassy of the United States in Sri Lanka, Lieutenant Colonel Tony Anthony.
The significant highlight of the ceremony took place next, with the Defence Attaché at the Embassy of the United States in Sri Lanka signing and exchanging official documents regarding US Government-granted equipment with the Tri-Forces. This segment was attended by the Chief Field Engineer from the Sri Lanka Army, Major General MK Jayawardena, the Commander of the Western Naval Area from the Sri Lanka Navy, Rear Admiral PS de Silva, and the Director General of Air Operations from SLAF, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Wickremaratne.
Following the official proceedings, the Director General of Air Operations, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Wickremaratne, addressed the gathering. He spoke of the longstanding bilateral ties between the USA and Sri Lanka, which spans throughout the past of the battle between the LTTE and the Sri Lankan Military. Then he highlighted the soaring challenges during the post-conflict environment in concerns of transnational crimes, upholding of law and order, peacekeeping, cyber security, and other related issues. He emphasized that due to these situations, the consignment of military equipment is certainly enhancing partnership capability in terms of Air Mobility, Maritime Interdiction and Peacekeeping Operations by the Sri Lanka Air Force, Sri Lanka Navy, and Sri Lanka Army. He expressed his sincere thanks on behalf of the Commander of the Air Force, to the visiting US dignitaries.
The Director General of Air Operations presented a special memento to the Defence Attaché at the Embassy of the United States in Sri Lanka, symbolizing the appreciation of Sri Lanka as a nation and of the Tri-Forces to the Government of the US and the Embassy of the United States in Sri Lanka, in particular, for their generosity.
The event was attended by the Assistant Defence Attaché, Mr. Seth Nevins, representatives from the Embassy of the United States in Sri Lanka, Director General of Aeronautical Engineering, Air Vice Marshal Ranjith Senanayake, the Chief Field Engineer from the Sri Lanka Army, Major General MK Jayawardena, the Commander of the Western Naval Area from the Sri Lanka Navy, Rear Admiral PS de Silva, the Base Commander of SLAF Base Katunayake, Air Vice Marshal Lasitha Sumanaweera, Formation Commanding Officers and a cross-section of officers at the Base.
Following the official proceedings, the Director General of Air Operations, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Wickremaratne, addressed the gathering. He spoke of the longstanding bilateral ties between the USA and Sri Lanka, which spans throughout the past of the battle between the LTTE and the Sri Lankan Military. Then he highlighted the soaring challenges during the post-conflict environment in concerns of transnational crimes, upholding of law and order, peacekeeping, cyber security, and other related issues. He emphasized that due to these situations, the consignment of military equipment is certainly enhancing partnership capability in terms of Air Mobility, Maritime Interdiction and Peacekeeping Operations by the Sri Lanka Air Force, Sri Lanka Navy, and Sri Lanka Army. He expressed his sincere thanks on behalf of the Commander of the Air Force, to the visiting US dignitaries.
The Director General of Air Operations presented a special memento to the Defence Attaché at the Embassy of the United States in Sri Lanka, symbolizing the appreciation of Sri Lanka as a nation and of the Tri-Forces to the Government of the US and the Embassy of the United States in Sri Lanka, in particular, for their generosity.
The event was attended by the Assistant Defence Attaché, Mr. Seth Nevins, representatives from the Embassy of the United States in Sri Lanka, Director General of Aeronautical Engineering, Air Vice Marshal Ranjith Senanayake, the Chief Field Engineer from the Sri Lanka Army, Major General MK Jayawardena, the Commander of the Western Naval Area from the Sri Lanka Navy, Rear Admiral PS de Silva, the Base Commander of SLAF Base Katunayake, Air Vice Marshal Lasitha Sumanaweera, Formation Commanding Officers and a cross-section of officers at the Base.
