Despite the political upheaval in Sri Lanka, it is in America's interests to continue military collaboration and cooperation with Sri Lankan Forces, US Indo-Pacific Command Chief Admiral Philip Davidson said.
According to PTI, Admiral Davidson told the US Senate's Armed Services Committee, during a Congressional hearing, that Sri Lanka remains a significant strategic opportunity in the Indian Ocean, and that military-to-military relationship continues to strengthen between the two nations.
“The political turmoil and ethnic tension between the Tamil and Sinhalese populations, however, remain as drivers of instability and potential obstacles to continued growth in our partnership,” he said.
He said the US Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) cooperates with the Sri Lankan military centres on building capacity in maritime security and maritime domain awareness, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, as well as humanitarian de-mining, medical assistance, and peacekeeping operations. He said that increasing navy-to-navy engagement with Sri Lanka would be a USINDOPACOM focus in 2019, and that the Sri Lankan Navy is a well-trained and professional force with the potential to contribute to multi-lateral maritime interoperability in the Indian Ocean.
“The recent transfer of an excess US Coast Guard cutter to Sri Lanka in August, 2018; along with additional platforms from Japan and India; provide the Sri Lankan Navy greater capabilities to contribute to regional maritime domain awareness initiatives,” he said.
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