A navy ship with over 900 US marines and navy sailors on board has docked in Trincomalee today, as the United States continues to expand military relations with Sri Lanka, despite ongoing concerns of human rights abuses.
The amphibious transport dock ‘USS Anchorage’ (LPD 23), with the embarked 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), is visiting as “part of a growing U.S.-Sri Lanka naval partnership,” said a US Embassy press release.
Alongside exercises with the Sri Lankan military, approximately 300 Sri Lankan naval academy midshipmen will tour USS Anchorage, the press release added.
“Additionally, sailors and marines will conduct training in visit, board, search and seizure, security force reaction techniques with the Sri Lankan navy and marines,” it continued.
"Our navy and Marine Corps team is deeply committed to continuing to strengthen our partnership with the Sri Lankan armed forces," said Rear Adm. Brad Cooper, commander, Amphibious Force U.S. 7th Fleet. "We are proud of the tremendous work that American Sailors and Marines are doing alongside their Sri Lankan teammates."
Capt. Dennis Jacko, commanding officer of Anchorage, also said "these ship visits help demonstrate the value of the growing U.S.-Sri Lanka partnership".
Commenting on the visit, Robert Hilton, Chargé d'affaires ad interim of the United States Embassy in Colombo, said “this visit and training will build our shared capacity to respond to humanitarian emergencies in the Indo-Pacific region”.
“We’re also excited to try out the air logistics hub concept which utilizes Sri Lanka’s strategic location in the Indian Ocean to ensure the quick availability of relief supplies, equipment and other material when needed by the U.S. and partner militaries and humanitarian organizations.”
The latest such exercise comes on the back of several similar initiatives, with Sri Lankan troops receiving training from their US counterparts. The exercises continue, despite concerns over Sri Lanka’s history of human rights abuses.
The Sri Lankan military launched a massive offensive that culminated in 2009, which killed tens of thousands of Tamil civilians and saw reported violations of international law committed by state forces. To date, no-one has been held accountable for the deaths, with Sri Lankan leaders consistently rejecting an accountability mechanism with international involvement.
