A bilateral maritime joint exercise involving the US Navy, the US Marine Corps, and the Sri Lankan Navy is scheduled to kick off on Monday, featuring anti-terrorism maneuvers, as announced by the American mission in Sri Lanka.
Dubbed the Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT), the exercise commences just two days ahead of the anticipated visit of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi to Sri Lanka for the inauguration of an Iranian-funded hydropower project. The confirmation of President Raisi's visit is still pending from Sri Lankan authorities, amid the backdrop of heightened tensions between Israel and Iran.
Highlighting the significance of the joint exercise, an official press release stated that CARAT Sri Lanka will showcase the expertise of the US Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security Team (FAST), a specialized unit of the US Marine Corps focused on security and anti-terrorism measures for naval assets. This collaboration will involve joint operations with their counterparts from the Sri Lanka Navy Marine, covering a wide range of naval capabilities.
Emphasizing the strong partnership between the United States and Sri Lanka, the release underlined their shared commitment to upholding a free and open Indo-Pacific region through initiatives like CARAT Sri Lanka.
Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera, Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy, expressed the value of participating in such exercises, citing the opportunity for Sri Lanka Navy personnel to enhance their confidence, gain operational experience, and receive training while collaborating with a seasoned and well-equipped navy like the US Navy. He noted the importance of such training in preparing for joint operations with various navies to uphold freedom of navigation and enforce a rules-based order in the oceanic region, as well as to counter both traditional and nontraditional maritime threats.
During President Raisi's visit to Colombo, he is expected to officially inaugurate the Uma Oya Multipurpose Project, which includes two dams and a 120-megawatt power plant constructed by Iranian contractors at a cost of USD 500 million in the central hill region. This project aims to enhance irrigation for 5,000 acres of agricultural land, facilitate the transfer of 145 million cubic meters of water, and generate 290 GW/h of power annually.
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Read also | Assistance for Ukraine from the US: NATO Chief Emphasizes TimelinessA bilateral maritime joint exercise involving the US Navy, the US Marine Corps, and the Sri Lankan Navy is scheduled to kick off on Monday, featuring anti-terrorism maneuvers, as announced by the American mission in Sri Lanka.
Dubbed the Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT), the exercise commences just two days ahead of the anticipated visit of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi to Sri Lanka for the inauguration of an Iranian-funded hydropower project. The confirmation of President Raisi's visit is still pending from Sri Lankan authorities, amid the backdrop of heightened tensions between Israel and Iran.
Highlighting the significance of the joint exercise, an official press release stated that CARAT Sri Lanka will showcase the expertise of the US Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security Team (FAST), a specialized unit of the US Marine Corps focused on security and anti-terrorism measures for naval assets. This collaboration will involve joint operations with their counterparts from the Sri Lanka Navy Marine, covering a wide range of naval capabilities.
Emphasizing the strong partnership between the United States and Sri Lanka, the release underlined their shared commitment to upholding a free and open Indo-Pacific region through initiatives like CARAT Sri Lanka.
Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera, Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy, expressed the value of participating in such exercises, citing the opportunity for Sri Lanka Navy personnel to enhance their confidence, gain operational experience, and receive training while collaborating with a seasoned and well-equipped navy like the US Navy. He noted the importance of such training in preparing for joint operations with various navies to uphold freedom of navigation and enforce a rules-based order in the oceanic region, as well as to counter both traditional and nontraditional maritime threats.
During President Raisi's visit to Colombo, he is expected to officially inaugurate the Uma Oya Multipurpose Project, which includes two dams and a 120-megawatt power plant constructed by Iranian contractors at a cost of USD 500 million in the central hill region. This project aims to enhance irrigation for 5,000 acres of agricultural land, facilitate the transfer of 145 million cubic meters of water, and generate 290 GW/h of power annually.
Read also | Israeli President Herzog Sounds Alarm on Iran's Nuclear Ambitions
Read also | Assistance for Ukraine from the US: NATO Chief Emphasizes Timeliness
