U.S. donated TH-57 helicopters handed over to Sri Lanka Air Force

Colombo, June 23 (Daily Mirror) - Ten TH-57 Sea Ranger multi-purpose helicopters donated by the United States were officially handed over to the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) during a ceremony held at Ratmalana Air Force Base on Monday under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

The helicopters were donated to enhance the SLAF’s pilot training capabilities and strengthen its operational capacity. President Dissanayake, who was accorded Air Force honours upon arrival, inspected the aircraft and met with Air Force personnel.

During the event, a bilateral agreement was signed by Air Force Commander Air Marshal Bandu Edirisinghe and Commander of the United States Pacific Air Forces, General Kevin Schneider, reaffirming defence cooperation between the two countries.

The TH-57 Sea Ranger helicopters are expected to play a key role in a wide range of operations, including disaster relief, search and rescue missions, and emergency public service activities. They will also be used to train aircrew for United Nations peacekeeping operations, further supporting Sri Lanka’s contribution to international peacekeeping efforts.

The helicopters arrived in Sri Lanka on June 1 through a specialised cargo operation from the United States and were assembled by the Air Engineering Wing at Ratmalana Air Force Base. They will enter service after completing final technical inspections and test flights to ensure suitability for local operating 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, and representatives of the United States Embassy, including Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Paul Kapur, Chargé d’Affaires Jayne Howell, and Defence Attaché Lieutenant Colonel Matthew House.