The United States and Sri Lanka have begun the sixth edition of the Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training exercise, a bilateral maritime programme aimed at strengthening maritime security, humanitarian assistance and disaster response capability across the Indian Ocean.
Hosted by the Sri Lanka Navy in Trincomalee and Colombo from July 27 to 31, CARAT Sri Lanka 2026 brings together personnel from the US Navy, US Coast Guard, Sri Lanka Navy and Sri Lanka Air Force for a week of shore-based and at-sea training.
The headline asset this year is a US Navy P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft, which will support advanced maritime domain awareness training and coordinated operations. Officials say the aircraft will sharpen both navies’ ability to monitor maritime activity, improve surveillance and respond rapidly to incidents across the region.
A US Coast Guard Maritime Engagement Team will conduct training aboard SLNS Gajabahu (P626) — the former US Coast Guard Cutter Douglas Munro, transferred to Sri Lanka under earlier security cooperation arrangements. Personnel will also operate a US-provided rigid-hull inflatable boat during maritime drills.
Training through the week covers maritime domain awareness, tactical medicine, explosive ordnance disposal, and visit, board, search and seizure operations, with classroom sessions preceding complex scenarios at sea.
US Embassy Senior Defense Official and Defense Attaché to Sri Lanka Lt. Col. Matthew House said the exercise reflects a lasting commitment to the security partnership.
“When our sailors train side-by-side, they build the trust, interoperability, and professional relationships that allow us to respond more effectively together when it matters most,” he said.
CARAT has been held in Sri Lanka since 2017 and has become a fixture of the defence relationship between Colombo and Washington. Alongside the operational programme, this year’s edition includes community engagement projects, sporting events and cultural exchanges between service members of the two countries.
