US to conduct yet another military exercise with war crimes accused Sri Lankan Air Force

by admin
Aug 2, 2024

The US military will join hands with the Sri Lankan Air Force and conduct a military exercise next week, despite ongoing human rights abuses and a history of atrocities.

The Montana National Guard, US Pacific Air Forces, Sri Lanka Air Force and members of the Maldives National Defense Force, are scheduled to conduct a joint military exercise which according to the US mission in Colombo is to be better prepared and respond to "natural and man-made disasters".

Named 'Atlas Angel,' the exercise will kick off from August 5- 9, with more than 70 US personnel and two C-130 Hercules aircraft scheduled to participate.

The military exercise according to the US Mission "underscores the importance of international cooperation in disaster response and U.S. commitment to fostering a resilient and prosperous Indo-Pacific region." 

Atlas Angel will feature six exercises, including urban and medical search and rescue as well as airfield repair, culminating in a crisis management exercise on August 9. 

“Following the main exercise, US Air Force surgeons will engage in a knowledge exchange session at the Kothalawala Defence University in Colombo, sharing best practices with Sri Lankan military and civilian medical counterparts,” the embassy continued.

US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung praised the disaster response cooperation adding that the US is committed fostering “resilience and prosperity in the region”.  

“Throughout this week, I look forward to working with regional counterparts and learning from their expertise as we go through realistic simulations, ensuring we are all ready to act in the event of an emergency,” added Montana National Guard Adjutant General Pete Hronek.

Photo of makeshift shelters in Mullaivaikkal 2009

For decades, the Sri Lankan air force bombed the Tamil homeland, killing countless Tamils. In the final stages of the armed conflict alone, tens of thousands were massacred as hospitals and 'No Fire Zones' were repeatedly targeted. 

Earlier this year, the United States completed a three-day training of Sri Lankan troops, teaching the air force how to conduct Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) flights, as the military relationship between the two continues to grow.

The latest military training for Sri Lankan troops comes after the US government announced it was looking to gift Colombo a cutter, with US$9 million allocated to support the effort.

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