Tuesday, July 21 2026
Tuesday, July 21 2026
GIFT DEED : US Pacific Air Forces Commander General Kevin Schneider addressing guests at Ratmalana Air Force Base when 10 helicopters were gifted
MONETABRIEF –Sri Lanka Air Force has received 10 TH-57 Sea Ranger choppers from America that can boost the island's helicopter training program, search-and-rescue capabilities, and the security of its air and maritime areas, the US embassy said.
The helicopters transferred under the U.S. Excess Defense Articles (EDA) program were previously flown by the U.S. Navy for pilot training and utility missions.
"They will now serve as the backbone of a modernized Sri Lanka Air Force training fleet, while also bolstering Sri Lanka's capacity to respond to humanitarian crises and secure its maritime domain," the US embassy statement said.
"The Sri Lanka Air Force's proven experience operating Bell helicopter platforms made these aircraft a natural fit — and with the TH-57 fleet in active U.S. Navy service as recently as last year, they arrive mission-ready."
Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, U.S. Pacific Air Forces Commander General Kevin Schneider, and U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Paul Kapur were at a ceremony at Ratmalana Air Force Base when the choppers were handed over.
"Sri Lanka sits astride some of the world's busiest shipping lanes — lanes that carry two-thirds of the world's oil and a third of global container traffic," Assistant Secretary Kapur said.
"When Sri Lanka's maritime domain is safer, those lanes stay open, commerce flows freely, and the Indian Ocean remains a highway for prosperity — not a theater for coercion. That matters directly to the United States."
"These American-made aircraft will help modernize Sri Lanka's air capabilities and train the next generation of aviators," General Schneider was quoted as saying at the handover.
"Our shared commitment to peace, security, and prosperity across the region is resolute, and that incredibly strong, collaborative partnership with Sri Lanka is on full display here today."
Assistant Secretary Kapur underscored the broader significance of the transfer: "This transfer is what a real partnership looks like —showcasing clear results and benefits for both parties. These American-made helicopters give the Sri Lanka Air Force the speed and reach to protect their people, defend their sovereignty, and secure their airspace and waters. (Colombo/Jun23/2026)
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