Exercise Pacific Angel – 2025 commenced today (08 September 2025) with an inauguration ceremony held at SLAF Base Katunayake. The multinational exercise will be conducted from 08 to 12 September 2025, with the participation of the United States Pacific Forces, the Royal Australian Air Force, the Japan Air Self-Defence Force, the Indian Air Force, the Maldivian National Defence Force, and the Bangladesh Air Force. The Sri Lanka Army and the Sri Lanka Navy will also take part alongside the SLAF.

A total of 300 personnel, including 123 foreign participants, are scheduled to engage in the exercise, which focuses on Search & Rescue (SAR) and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR). The programme includes Subject Matter Expert Exchanges (SMEEs) covering areas such as aircraft maintenance, aircrew operations, aeromedical patient movement, mass casualty medical response, jungle survival and airlift cargo handling. These operations will be conducted primarily at SLAF Base Katunayake, with selected sessions at SLAF Academy China Bay and the SLAF Regimental Training Centre Ampara.

The exercise will be supported by both air and naval platforms, including two C-130J aircraft from the United States Air Force, as well as a Bell 412, a B-212 helicopter and a King Air 350 from the SLAF. The Sri Lanka Navy will contribute selected vessels to support the maritime component.

The Inauguration Ceremony was attended by the Director General Health Services, Air Vice Marshal (Dr.) Lalith Jayaweera, Director General Air Operations, Air Vice Marshal Dammika Dias, Base Commander SLAF Base Katunayake, Air Commodore Asela Jayasekara, US Mission Commander, Captain Zachary Eberl, Defence Attaché USA, Lieutenant Colonel Matthew House, Defence Attaché Australia, Colonel Amanda Johnston, Defence Attaché Republic of Maldives, Lieutenant Colonel Hassan Amir, senior officers and exercise participants including Sri Lanka Army and Navy.