චීනයෙන් 2015 වසරට නිල ඇදුම්, ඇමරිකාවෙන් ගුවන් හමුදාවට ප්ලෙන් එකක්
ඔක්කොම රනිල්ගේ කාලේ දුන්න ඒවනේ 
අනිත් ඒවත් හොයල දාන්නම්
US gifted Beechcraft King Air 360ER to reach Sri Lanka next week
September 6, 2024 at 1:55 PM
The Beechcraft King Air 360ER aircraft donated by the United States to the Sri Lanka Air Force will arrive in Sri Lanka next week.
Issuing a statement, the US Embassy in Sri Lanka said the advanced aircraft is designed to enhance Sri Lanka’s capabilities in search and rescue operations, drug interdiction, and combating trafficking and smuggling.
Funded by the US Department of Defense’s Building Partner Capacity program, this donation, which originated in 2019, is part of a long-term collaboration with the Sri Lanka Air Force.
It will also significantly improve the country’s maritime surveillance operations while reinforcing US-Sri Lanka defense cooperation.
This $19 million US Government grant includes the aircraft and support services, all provided at no cost to the Sri Lanka Air Force.
The Beechcraft King Air 360ER is equipped with cutting-edge technology to boost Sri Lanka’s ability to patrol its waters and address maritime threats.
Following a training and induction period, the official handover is expected to take place later this year.
As part of the collaboration, US government personnel will conduct a three-month training program to ensure Sri Lanka Air Force personnel are fully equipped to operate and maintain the aircraft.
The aircraft, manufactured by Beechcraft Textron Aviation and completed in late 2022, underwent additional upgrades, including the installation of maritime patrol sensors like radar and cameras, finalized in mid-2024.
From June to August 2024, Sri Lankan Air Force personnel participated in training in Kansas and Florida to prepare for the aircraft’s arrival, which is expected next week.
Once in Sri Lanka, the aircraft will undergo further training and integration at the Ratmalana Air Force base before joining Maritime Patrol Squadron 3 in China Bay, Trincomalee.
(Newswire)
- https://www.newswire.lk/2024/09/06/us-gifted-beechcraft-king-air-360er-to-reach-sri-lanka-next-week/
Australia to Gift Beechcraft KA350 King Air Aircraft to Sri Lanka
May 14, 2023
The Australian Government has announced that it will gift a former Royal Australian Air Force Beechcraft KA350 King Air aircraft (registration A32-673) to the Sri Lankan Government. The aircraft will be used to enhance Sri Lanka's sovereign aerial maritime surveillance capability.
This was conveyed to President Ranil Wickremesinghe when an Australian delegation led by the Australian High Commissioner HE Paul Stephens met the President at the Presidential Secretariat May(12).
The gift of the aircraft is part of the Australian Government's commitment to strengthening and enhancing the cooperation and collaboration that is the foundation of the strong bilateral relationship between Australia and Sri Lanka. A key focus of this relationship remains the continued cooperation on countering all forms of transnational crime, including drug smuggling, as well as strengthening border management through intelligence sharing and the deterrence, disruption, interception and return of maritime people smuggling ventures under the border security operation known as Operation Sovereign Borders.
The Australian Government greatly values this cooperation, which has led to the disruption of a significant number of maritime people smuggling ventures, and has protected the lives and livelihoods of vulnerable people by preventing criminal exploitation, dangerous sea voyages and loss of life at sea.
Following the Australian Minister for Home Affairs' visit to Sri Lanka in June last year, the Department of Home Affairs has driven forward a number of new initiatives in these areas, in partnership with a number of Sri Lankan Government departments. In pursuing these initiatives, Australia has emphasised the importance of supporting Sri Lanka to develop sovereign capabilities.
As part of the gift of the aircraft, the Australian Government will also provide sustainment support for a period of 12 months, after which sustainment will become the sole responsibility of the Sri Lanka Government.
The Australian Government is confident that this gift will further strengthen the strong bilateral relationship between Australia and Sri Lanka, and will help to enhance Sri Lanka's ability to counter transnational crime and protect its borders.
Deputy High Commissioner Ms Lalita Kapur, First Secretary Mr Brett Zehnder and Defence Advisor Captain Ian Cain were also present at this meeting.
President’s Media Division (PMD)
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https://www.news.lk/news/political-...echcraft-ka350-king-air-aircraft-to-sri-lanka
China to provide free school uniform material for Sri Lanka students
Sunday, July 14, 2024
The Chinese Government has agreed to provide school uniform material, required by Sri Lankan schoolchildren for next year, free-of-charge, Education Minister Susil Premajayantha told Education Times.
He said that the cost for the material is expected to be around Rs 6 billion.
Minister Premajayantha said that he had discussions with the Chinese Government as well as the Chinese Ambassador in Colombo on the subject.
Last year the Chinese Government provided school uniform material at half the charge.
The minister said they hoped to distribute the material by December. (DWI)
- https://www.sundaytimes.lk/240714/e...m-material-for-sri-lanka-students-563940.html
