The official handover of ten TH-57 Sea Ranger multi-purpose helicopters donated by the United States Government to the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) took place on Monday (23) at the Ratmalana Air Force Base under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
According to the President’s Media Division (PMD), President Dissanayake was accorded a ceremonial welcome with Air Force honours upon his arrival at the base. He later inspected the helicopters and joined Air Force personnel for a group photograph.
During the ceremony, a bilateral agreement relating to the donation was signed by Air Force Commander Air Marshal Bandu Edirisinghe and Commander of the United States Pacific Air Forces, General Kevin Schneider.
The TH-57 Sea Ranger helicopters are expected to significantly enhance the Sri Lanka Air Force’s pilot training capabilities while expanding its operational capacity across a range of missions.
The PMD stated that the helicopters will support disaster relief operations, search and rescue missions, emergency public service activities, and humanitarian assistance efforts. They will also be used to train aircrew participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations, further strengthening Sri Lanka’s contribution to international peacekeeping missions.
The aircraft arrived in Sri Lanka on June 1 following a specialized cargo operation from the United States and were subsequently assembled by the Air Engineering Wing at the Ratmalana Air Force Base.
Before entering service, the helicopters will undergo final technical inspections and test flights to ensure compatibility with Sri Lanka’s airspace and climatic conditions.
Among those attending the ceremony were Deputy Minister of Defence Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd), Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd), Marshal of the Air Force Roshan Gunathilake, members of the Air Force Board of Management, and other senior Air Force officers.
The United States delegation included Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Paul Kapur, US Chargé d’Affaires Jayne Howell, Senior Defence Official and Defence Attaché Lieutenant Colonel Matthew House, and several other senior officials from the US Embassy.
The donation reflects the continuing defence cooperation between Sri Lanka and the United States and is expected to enhance the operational readiness and training capacity of the Sri Lanka Air Force.