{"id":109288,"date":"2020-12-02T18:05:23","date_gmt":"2020-12-03T01:05:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/?p=109288"},"modified":"2020-12-02T18:05:23","modified_gmt":"2020-12-03T01:05:23","slug":"the-pohottuwa-government-of-sri-lanka-part-2-c6","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/2020\/12\/02\/the-pohottuwa-government-of-sri-lanka-part-2-c6\/","title":{"rendered":"THE POHOTTUWA GOVERNMENT OF SRI LANKA Part 2 C6"},"content":{"rendered":"

KAMALIKA PIERIS<\/em><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n

USA  made its future\nmilitary plans clear to those listening in Sri Lanka. At the Galle Dialogue\n2017, Admiral Scott Swift,  Pacific Fleet\nCommander  said they look forward to the\nexpansion of our military to military relations. It was necessary to build\ntrust and cooperation to address multilateral challenges. With  [certain] realities creeping into the Indian\nOcean, maintaining the Indian Ocean as a sea of tranquility seems increasingly\nproblematic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Addressing the 3rd Annual Colombo Air Symposium, October 2017, United\nStates Air Force Major General James Eifet called for increased partnership and\ninformation sharing among nations in the Indo-Pacific region in the face of a\nnuclear threat from North Korea. It was\nnot only USA, the Republic of Korea and Japan who were at risk from a possible\nmissile attack but also  other countries\nin the region. Sri Lanka was also \nwithin  the range of an attack by\nballistic missiles from North Korea, he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

IN 2017, President \nSirisena  thanked the US for\nresuming training of Sri Lankan armed force members, and urged the US to\nincrease  technical training to naval\nofficials. The Institute of National Security Studies Sri Lanka (INSSSL)\nbriefed a delegation from the Young Alakai Warriors of the U.S. Army Pacific on\nSecurity Challenges of Sri Lanka in the Next Decade\u201d in 2017.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The US Army\u2019s\nPacific Region Head Gen. Robert B.Brown made an official visit to the Island in\nJuly   2018. He met Chief of Defence\nStaff. Gen. Brown\u2019s visit was aimed at strengthening military cooperation and\nmutual friendship and thus deepening the US-South Asia understanding. Lengthy\ndiscussions took place on how the US Army can assist the Sri Lankan Army on\ndisaster management activities and as to whether the Sri Lankan Peace Keeping\nMission can get international training. Gen Brown also admired the professional\ncompetency of the Sri Lankan Army on demining. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A 17-member\ndelegation of the United States Land Forces in the Pacific Command arrived in\nSri Lanka for participation in \u2018Land Forces Pacific Programme\u2019 sessions In\nApril 2018. There were preliminary\ndiscussions which addressed issues related to matters of interest to the US\nsuch as security cooperation. They also exchanged views on current developments\nin the region and other matters of mutual interest and concern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Geoffrey F. Gresh, Department Head of International Security\nStudies – National Defense University in Washington, D.C and Associate\nProfessor at the College of International Security Affairs (CISA), paid a\ncourtesy call on Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Admiral Ravindra C.\nWijegunaratne in June 2018.  He was\naccompanied by LTC Douglas Hess, Defence attache, US Embassy. A cordial\ndiscussion was held between the delegates on matters of mutual interest and\ncooperation. The two officials also discussed matters related to Indian Ocean\nSecurity dynamics and maritime security cooperation in the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Army\nCommander Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake attended the US Army\u2019s \u2018LANPAC\nSymposium and Exposition\u2019, organized by the Institute of Land Warfare in\nHonolulu, Hawaii, in  June 2018. This\nannual world-class international forum of military intellectuals highlighted\nthis year, the role, and contribution of land forces in the Indo-Pacific\ntheatre. The theme was \u2018The Future of Land Force Integration; Multilateral\nApproaches across the Indo-Pacific\u2019. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lieutenant\nGeneral Senanayake also called on US Army Commanding General, Pacific Command,\nGeneral Robert B. Brown and discussed several issues of concern as well as\nmatters relating to continuing defence cooperation. Senanayake\nwas also among the invitees to a special banquet, hosted by General Brown. Lieutenant\nGeneral Senanayake\u2019s retinue to Hawaii included Military Assistant to the Army\nCommander Colonel K.A.A. Udaya Kumara and Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM)\nWarrant Officer I.W.M.S.P. Wijesinghe, perhaps for the first time in the Army\nhistory in a Commander\u2019s entourage\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

United States will provide nearly $300 million in security\nassistance to improve security relationships across the Indo-Pacific region,\nincluding Sri Lanka, Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo announced at the ASEAN\nRegional Forum in August 2018. The security assistance funding will cover\nprojects in Bangladesh, Indonesia, Mongolia, Nepal, the Pacific Islands, the\nPhilippines, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and others, in the areas of Maritime Security,\nHumanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HA\/DR), Peacekeeping Operations and\nCountering Transnational Crime.. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As part of the maritime security theme, we launched the Bay of\nBengal Initiative to help enhance the capacity of civilian and military\nmaritime actors in this vital region, which is home to important sea lanes\nlinking the Indian Ocean to East Asia. Under the Bay of Bengal Initiative,  the United States will \u2018work with other\npartners in the Bay of Bengal, including Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to enhance\nthe capacity of civilian and military maritime actors in the Indian Ocean Region\nto improve the target areas of detection, information-sharing, and response to\nemerging threats.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In August 2018 the U.S. Department of State announced that it\nwould provide approximately $39 million in Foreign Military Financing for Sri\nLanka, pending Congressional approval.”We look forward to discussing with\nthe Government of Sri Lanka how this contribution can support our Bay of Bengal\ninitiative and Sri Lanka\u2019s humanitarian assistance and disaster response\npriorities”, it said in a statement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In May 2018, a delegation from the House Armed Services Committee\nof the U.S. Congress visited Sri Lanka. The House Armed Services Committee, a\nstanding committee of the United States House of Representatives, is a powerful\nCommittee, responsible for the supervision of armed forces and the Department\nof Defence. The delegation was led by its Chairman Mac Thornberry.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The visit was to find out ways of strengthening defence\ncooperation between Sri Lanka and USA.  \nPresident Sirisena told the delegation that he greatly appreciated the\ndefense training provided by the US, such as the joint military exercises\ncarried out by US and Sri Lanka. Such programmes should continue for security\npurposes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

United States Air Force Airmen from across the Indo-Pacific met\nwith their Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) counterparts at the SLAF Headquarters in\nColombo IN 2018 for ‘Airman to Airman’ talks. The two groups focused on\nenhancing regional security, future training opportunities and exercises geared\ntoward strengthening interoperability and professional military education\nopportunities for both SLAF and USAF airmen. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Maj. Gen. Eifert the engagement was very successful.\nAt the two-day meeting both sides gained valuable information to share with key\ndecision makers. The information would help both forces strengthen their bonds\nand bolster interoperability. “The\nSLAF did an outstanding job of communicating their needs and priorities which\nwe are able to take back to HQ PACAF. It was a great opportunity to be here and\nimprove the Sri Lanka, U.S. relationship,” Eifert said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The US paid much attention to the navy.A Sri Lanka Marine Corps\nwas  set up with US help  in 2017. The U.S. Coast Guard handed over a\nhigh endurance cutter, formerly the USCGC Sherman, to the Sri Lankan Navy in\nAugust 2018 at Honolulu. The cutter, a gift from the people of the United\nStates, will be the largest ship in the Sri Lankan fleet. It measures 115\nmeters long and when fully staffed carries a crew of 167 The ship will increase\nSri Lanka\u2019s ability to patrol its Exclusive Economic Zone, providing additional\nsecurity for ships from all nations that transit the busy sea lanes of the\nIndian Ocean. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For seven\ndecades from the end of the World War II, the US Seventh fleet dominated the\nPacific area . After Yahapalana\nvictory, ships of the   7th<\/sup> Fleet,   visited Sri Lanka regularly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 The first US navy ship to arrive was Blue Ridge\u2019<\/strong>, in March 2016. When Blue Ridge came, the  US ambassador said that this would be the\nfirst of many to come. They would like to bring more of their Seventh Fleet to\nSri Lanka. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The USNS \u2018Fall River\u2019<\/strong>,  a transport ship of  U.S. Pacific Fleet  arrived at the Port of Hambantota in March\n2017  to engage in the first Pacific\nPartnership goodwill mission. Chief of US Pacific Fleet, Rear Admiral\nGabrielson was present at the launch. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Admiral\nGabrielson said Sri Lanka was selected as the first of four nations for the\n2017 Pacific Partnership programme because Sri Lanka government had made the\nrequest. Hambantota area was selected out of about 48 areas proposed.  It takes a lot of effort to build trust and\ncredibility. This exercise will make it easier for us to help each other when\nthe unthinkable happens,\u201d said Gabrielson. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

100 US,\nJapanese and Australian marines \nincluding 60 air borne US marines and navy personnel  participated. \nSLNS Samudura (formerly of the US Coast Guard) joined the 10-day\nexercise. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Pacific Partnership medical teams will join Sri Lankan doctors\nand nurses for training at the General Hospital and Nurses Training School in\nHambantota, the Tissamaharama Base Hospital and other local clinics and\nhospitals. Free public medical and dental clinics in select cities will also be\nconducted by mission doctors and nurses, said the press release. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The activities would include free community health clinics, school\nand hospital renovations, learning exchanges for medical and disaster-relief\nresponders, seminars to promote women\u2019s roles in peace and security and public\nperformances by the U.S. 7th Fleet Band. Local\norganizations, working together with U.S. Navy civil engineers,   will complete renovations of the Ambalantota\nDivisional Hospital, Wishaka Mahila Preschool, Sri Gunananda Preschool and\nmultiple Maternity and Child Clinic Centres. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. 7th Fleet Band \nheld joint public concerts at the Galle Fort, Tangalle City Centre,\nHambantota Beach Park , Bata Atha Agro Park, Matara Beach Park and several\nschools in the area. Television news showed the Pacific Partnership team\nattending a pinkama at Ambalantota \nSunadararamaya.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thereafter,  US  guided missile destroyer USS Hopper<\/strong> arrived on   a\ngoodwill visit in January 2017.   It  conducted training  for the Sri Lanka navy and also played\ncricket, baseball, volley ball and basketball with them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

USS\n\u2018Comstock\u2019<\/strong> arrived  for a four day\ntraining workshop at Colombo harbour in March 2017. \u2018USS Comstock\u2019 is part of\nthe 7th  fleet.  The training will be to enhance skill sets and strengthen relations between the\ntwo militaries. This is the\nthird such military-to-military exchange between U.S. Sailors and Marines and\ntheir Sri Lankan counterparts in the past 12 months, the authorities observed,\n\u2018and this will form the basis of further cooperation between our militaries.\u2019 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Approximately\n325 U.S. sailors and marines joined 175 participants from the Sri Lankan Navy\nand Marine Corps as part of this exchange.  Training focused on  the movement and logistics support needed to successfully\nconduct humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

  US marines showed the Sri Lanka Marine Corps,\nprocedures for life-saving skills, convoy operations, humanitarian assistance,\ndisaster relief training and amphibious vehicle familiarization. Thereafter members\nof the U.S. Embassy, including U.S. Ambassador joined this group in donating\ntoys and renovating children\u2019s dormitories at the  School for the Deaf and Blind in Ratmalana.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amphibious\ntransport dock USS Anchorage<\/strong> (LPD\n23), and the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) arrived at Trincomalee Port\nin August 2018. Anchorage, is part of the Essex Amphibious Ready Group (ARG),\nand is deployed to the 7th fleet area of operations to support regional\nstability, reassure partners and allies and maintain a presence postured to\nrespond to any crisis from humanitarian assistance to contingency operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The US  was interested\nin  trying out the air logistics hub\nconcept which utilizes Sri Lanka\u2019s strategic location in the Indian Ocean to\nensure the quick availability of relief supplies, equipment and other material\nwhen needed by the US and partner militaries and humanitarian organizations. “The Sri Lankan navy, host nation\nsupport team and the U.S. Embassy have provided tremendous assistance and\ncooperation in developing the first temporary air logistics hub concept in Sri\nLanka, said Anchorage officials. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anchorage aims not only to enhance security cooperation, but to\nbuild understanding of the HADR (humanitarian assistance, disaster relief)\ncapability that contributes to disaster, along with sharing of best practices\nand enabling more efficient joint relief efforts in the event of a future\ndisaster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, sailors and marines will conduct training in visit,\nboard, search and seizure, security force reaction techniques with the Sri\nLankan Navy and Marines. There will also be damage control training. The US\nNavy damage control program is the best. The visit is also an opportunity for\nUS Seventh Fleet to explore local logistics support services for visiting naval\nforces operating throughout the Indo-Pacific region. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the visit, sailors and marines will have opportunities to\nmeet with their counterparts during exercises with the Sri Lankan Navy and\nmarines. Approximately 300 Sri Lankan naval academy midshipmen and 40\ndistinguished visitors, will tour Anchorage to learn about the ship\u2019s\namphibious capabilities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The visit\noffers US sailors and marines the opportunity to explore the local area and\nmeet their counterparts during exercises with the Sri Lankan Navy and Marines,\nthe statement said. “In addition to the professional exchanges, Sailors\nand Marines will take part in sporting events, including baseball, soccer,\nbasketball and volleyball. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

 “Our Navy and Marine\nCorps team is deeply committed to continuing to strengthen our partnership with\nthe Sri Lankan armed forces,” Sailors and Marines are focused on\ncompleting a successful mission and representing America in Sri\nLanka. “These ship visits help demonstrate the value of the growing\nU.S.-Sri Lanka partnership,\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The USS Anchorage also joined the Sri Lankan naval ship Suranimila\nto conduct an exercise at sea.  The exercise allowed the ships to improve\ncrews knowledge and strengthen a wide variety of seamanship skills critical to\noperating throughout a free and open Indo-Pacific region. During the\nexercise, multiple ships sailed information to practice communications and\nmaneuvering procedures.  In addition to the Anchorage and Suranimila, two\nlanding craft air cushions (LCACs), one AH-1Z Cobra helicopter, and one UH-1Y\nHuey helicopter participated. .”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The Anchorage team and I had an incredible time in\nTrincomalee and we are proud to be serving alongside the Sri Lankan Navy,”\nsaid Captain Dennis Jacko, Commanding Officer of the USS Anchorage. \n“Not only do we increase our proficiency in communications, but we\ncontinue to build on a strong and lasting partnership with the Sri Lankan\nNavy.” This was part of a growing U.S.-Sri Lanka naval partnership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

USA\u2019s  Nimitz\nCarrier Strike Group<\/strong>  visited\nColombo  in October 2017. These carriers\nare used for offensive operations. The Group included the USS Nimitz, the\ncruiser USS Princeton,  destroyers USS\nHoward, USS Shoup, USS Pinckney, and USS Kidd. USS Nimitz is a super\ncarrier<\/a> of the United States Navy<\/a>, and the lead ship<\/a> of her class<\/a>. It is  one of the largest warships<\/a> in the\nworld. It is more than 23 stories high from the keel to the top of the mast and\nis approximately 333 meters long.  It can accommodate more than 5,000\npersonnel . This was the first aircraft carrier to visit since1985. It was parked\n150  nautical miles  off Colombo. It was too large to enter Colombo port.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The visit was given a PR  look. I\u2019m\ndelighted that U.S. sailors will have the chance to visit Sri Lanka, meet with\nits wonderful people, and take part in public service activities at schools,\nhospitals, and rest homes that will improve the lives of Sri Lankans of all\nages,\u201d  said the U.S. Ambassador to Sri\nLanka. While in port, sailors will also work with local non-profit\norganizations to support community service events at a local hospital, an\norphanage, and other sites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The local\nmedia   kept very quiet  about this visit. Foreign  newspapers did not.   Asia\nTimes<\/em>  had a paragraph on the event,\nstarting with the headline ,\u2018US sends super carrier USS Nimitz to Sri Lanka in flag-showing visit\naimed at China\u2019 . This is what Asia Times<\/em>\nsaid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 \u2018The US Navy, against a backdrop of quickening\nrelations between Sri Lanka and China, is sending<\/a> the USS\nNimitz to make the first port call by a US aircraft carrier to the Indian Ocean\nnation in more than 30 years. The huge carrier will dock in Sri Lanka\u2019s port of\nColombo on Saturday for three days , in the first such visit since the\nmid-1980s. USS Nimitz and its escorting warships are currently one of three US\ncarrier strike groups operating in the western Pacific. The show of force is a\nUS response to continuing tensions with North Korea over its nuclear weapons\nprogram. The Nimitz\u2019s flag-showing exercise in Sri Lanka also seems designed to\ncounter a growing Chinese presence in the strategic nation\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. Navy\nhospital ship USNS “Mercy<\/strong>”\narrived in Trincomalee on April 25 to conduct the 2018 Pacific Partnership\nmission.” Pacific Partnership is\nthe largest annual multilateral Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief\n(HA\/DR) preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Asia-Pacific. It aims to\nenhance regional coordination in areas such as medical readiness and\npreparedness for disaster situations. Personnel\nfrom the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, France, Peru,\nand Japan took part in this year\u2019s programme working side-by-side with Sri\nLankan medical professionals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This year\u2019s Sri Lanka stop was similar to 2017\u2019s mission. U.S. and\npartner nation service members  joined\ntheir Sri Lankan counterparts in civil engineering projects, humanitarian\nassistance and disaster relief (HA\/DR) readiness training, and public outreach\nthroughout the local community. ” they conducted a range of  activities for schools, hospitals, community\ncentres and locals in and around the Trincomalee district. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The USNS Mercy\u201d contains 12 fully-equipped operating rooms, a 1,000\nbed hospital facility, digital radiological services, a medical laboratory, a\npharmacy, an optometry lab, a CAT-scan and two oxygen producing plants. The\nship is equipped with a helicopter deck capable of landing large military\nhelicopters. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

US and Sri\nLankan surgeons conducted the world\u2019s first ever robot-assisted surgery aboard\nthe USNS Mercy. The team\nsuccessfully completed a cholecystectomy, or gall bladder removal, on a Sri\nLankan citizen using a Da Vinci XI Robot Surgical System. This was the first\ntime I have ever operated aboard a ship,\u201d said Dr. Vyramuthu Varanitharan, a\ngeneral surgeon at the Muttur Base Hospital. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the ship\u2019s stay, USN doctors along with Lankan doctors\nperformed 24 varying surgeries onboard, out of which the robotic surgery\nperformed onboard was the 1st in the world. \nThey also treated over 5,500 patients conducting medical clinics at\nvarious locations in and around Trincomalee in addition to over 500 veterinary\nsurgeries and vaccinations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There were also special\nmusical performances presented by the US 7th Fleet Band partnering with the Sri\nLanka Navy in a blend of US-Sri Lankan music genres.\u200b From medical clinics to\nfree public concerts, our sailors will bring the best of America to local\ncommunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In august\n2018 a joint humanitarian assistance mission called Pacific Angel<\/strong>, sponsored by the US Pacific Command (USPACOM)\nconcluded at the Alagalla School in Vavuniya, The mission operated in Vavuniya,\nAnuradhapura and Sigiriya. The purpose\nwas to provide humanitarian civic assistance and carry out civil-military operations\nin the Pacific region. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Medical\ntreatment was provided by Pacific Air Forces doctors, including representatives\nfrom the Bangladesh Air Force, Maldivian Defence Force, Nepal Army, and Sri\nLanka Air Force (SLAF) Medical\/Dental officers and nurses. Medical teams\ntreated 3,000 patients the services included primary health care, physical\ntherapy, optometry and dentistry. Vavuniya\nNursing School students and Red Cross officials participated. A forum\nhighlighting topics such as modern engineering practices in disaster management\nand renovation was also held for SLAF civil engineers and technicians. School\nbuildings were also renovated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. Navy\nand Marines and Sri Lankan Navy and Marines launched the annual Cooperation\nAfloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise in Trincomalee in October\n2107.  US navy    added Sri Lanka to the list of CARAT\npartners  for the first time in 2017,  as part of \u2018our larger efforts to expand both\nbilateral and multilateral maritime security engagement across the Indo-Pacific\nregion\u2019. CARAT is entering its twenty-third year, and Sri Lanka is among the\nnewest CARAT partner nations, demonstrating a shared commitment to\nmaritime security in the Indian Ocean.\u2019  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

CARAT Sri\nLanka 2017 is part of a series of bilateral CARAT military exercises between\nthe U.S. Navy and the armed forces of Bangladesh, Brunei, Indonesia,\nMalaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, the Philippines and Thailand.  U.S.\nNavy  participation in CARAT Sri Lanka\n2017 included Commander Task Group 75.5, Coastal Riverine Group 1, Underwater\nConstruction Team 2 and U.S. Marines with Fleet Antiterrorism Security Team\nPacific.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The week-long\nexercise  focused on maritime security\nskills and operational cohesiveness among participating forces.  CARAT\ntraining encompasses small boat operations, evidence collection, diving\nprocedures, and anti-terrorism security.  It also builds relationships\nbetween military participants through community development projects, sports,\nand social events.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There were several joint navy exercises.  I will list them chronologically. The world’s\nlargest international maritime warfare exercise (Rim of the Pacific \u2013 RIMPAC)\ntook place in the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California in June\/August 2018.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

.Sri Lanka\ntook part in the biennial Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) maritime exercise  2018 \nheld in  Hawaii and Southern\nCalifornia in June 2018. This was  the\nfirst time Sri Lanka   was participating\nin this exercise. RIMPAC 2018\nwas an American led combined live field training exercise that included\noperational and tactical level training. The Sri Lanka team also had a week of\nField Training Exercise and similar training engagements with Royal Australian\nNavy Marines and US Marines in Townville, Australia. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The many exercises conducted during RIMPAC included the training\non the operations of an assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard. Participants gained\nfirsthand knowledge on how rescue operation are conducted, how victims are\nbrought to the ship and transferred to the ICU. A Sri Lanka media team joined other\ninternational media in documenting the exercise. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In July 2018\nThe Joint Combined Exchange Training (JCET) exercise between US Naval Special\nWarfare Forces personnel and Sri Lanka naval personnel from the 4th Fast Attack\nFlotilla (4FAF) and Special Boat Squadron (SBS) was inaugurated at the Special\nBoat Squadron Training School (SBSTS) in Trincomalee. The programme is held\nannually as part of a mutual understanding and agreements for the training and\nsupport requirements of both countries. The four – week course focused on\ndeveloping professional skills and exchange of knowledge among naval personnel\nof US Naval Special Warfare Forces and Sri Lanka Navy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The third\nKDU-CNA Track 1.5 Dialogue on Naval cooperation was held in July 2018 at the\nFaculty of Graduate Studies, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University\n(KDU).The two-day dialogue was a collaborative initiative between KDU and the\nCenter for Naval Analysis (CNA), USA. The KDU-CNA Track 1.5 Dialogue is a\none-of-a-kind discussion that we organize at KDU, facilitating interaction\nbetween the navies of Sri Lanka and the United States, along with the\nparticipation of relevant academics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 This year\u2019s Track 1.5 Dialogue focused on how\nbilateral relations between Sri Lanka and the USA could be further improved in\na variety of spheres and how the global security concerns are influencing the\nrelations between the two countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 Track 1.5 diplomacy is an initiative to bring\ntogether government and non-governmental actors to discuss on a variety of\ntopics that could improve the bilateral relations of countries. As such, this\ntwo-day deliberation witnessed the participation of analysts and academics\nalong with naval officials from the navies of both participating countries for\na discussion. Held under the Chatham House Rule, this year\u2019s Dialogue included\nfour main sessions, with the 5th and final session being a wrap-up session with\nthe speakers providing forward-looking, implementable suggestions for Sri Lanka\nand the United States. ( continued)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

KAMALIKA PIERIS USA  made its future military plans clear to those listening in Sri Lanka. At the Galle Dialogue 2017, Admiral Scott Swift,  Pacific Fleet Commander  said they look forward to the expansion of our military to military relations. It was necessary to build trust and cooperation to address multilateral challenges. With  [certain] realities creeping […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[104],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-109288","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-kamalika-pieris"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/109288","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=109288"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/109288\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=109288"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=109288"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=109288"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}