The United States and Sri Lanka have begun a five-day joint military exercise aimed at enhancing disaster preparedness and emergency response capabilities, bringing together personnel from multiple nations for specialized training.
A comprehensive disaster response exercise between the United States and Sri Lanka commenced on August 31, with operations set to continue through September 4 at locations including Sri Lanka Air Force Base Katunayake and Kandy. The initiative, known as Atlas Angel II, involves military personnel and technical experts from the Sri Lanka Air Force, the Montana National Guard, and U.S. Pacific Air Forces, alongside observers from the United Kingdom and Bangladesh.
The training programme covers multiple critical areas of emergency management, including aircraft maintenance for C-130 transport planes, urban search and rescue operations, incident command systems, construction engineering, landslide response, and handling of chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive hazards. U.S. Ambassador Eric Meyer characterized the exercise as demonstrating practical bilateral partnership, stating it reflects shared preparedness interests and strengthens regional security. Sri Lanka Air Force Commander Air Marshal Bandu Edirisinghe emphasized that natural disasters transcend national boundaries, noting the exercise represents a redefined approach to humanitarian assistance involving multiple nations.
Atlas Angel II builds upon existing cooperation established in 2021 through the U.S. Department of Defense's State Partnership Program between the Montana National Guard and Sri Lanka. A November 2025 Memorandum of Understanding formalized collaboration in disaster response, aviation, and maritime security. The exercise's relevance was underscored by the December 2025 Cyclone Ditwah response, when U.S. and Sri Lankan forces jointly deployed C-130J aircraft to deliver emergency supplies to affected communities.
Beyond military training, the programme includes cultural components, with musicians from the U.S. Air Forces Band of the Pacific performing alongside Sri Lankan counterparts to strengthen professional and people-to-people connections.