US Donates Equipment to Sri Lanka Air Force

by India Abroad News Service, August 23, 2010

Colombo, Aug 23 (IANS) Officials of the US embassy presented the Sri Lanka Air Force Rs.674 million ($6 million) in equipment to enhance maritime security, the embassy said Monday.

At a ceremony at the Ratmalana Air Base, Valerie Fowler, Deputy Chief of Mission at the embassy, announced the donation to Air Chief Marshal Roshan Goonetileke, Chief of Defence Staff from the Sri Lanka Air Force.

This hardware, including data links for two Beechcraft 200 aircraft, enables real time imagery that has assisted Sri Lanka in providing humanitarian assistance and responding to natural disasters such as floods.

The equipment also assists the Sri Lanka military in ensuring the safety and security of the country's territorial waters.

The US supports Sri Lanka in its efforts to combat human trafficking, piracy, terrorism, narcotics smuggling and other transnational crime. Safe and secure seas are in the interests of both our countries.