US Ambassador reveals Sri Lanka Navy’s participation in anti-Houthi operations

The US Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Julie Chung, yesterday (28), confirmed during a conference organised by the Pathfinder Foundation that Sri Lanka had dispatched a navy ship to support anti-Houthi operations in the Red Sea, led by the United States.

Chung mentioned that one of the cutters, previously donated by the US, had been deployed by Sri Lanka to assist in anti-Houthi operations.

The Sri Lankan Navy was now part of a multinational coalition dedicated to safeguarding commercial ship traffic routes in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Arabian Sea, particularly against potential Houthi attacks, she said.

Highlighting the collaboration, Chung said the US has contributed three former US Coast Guard cutters to Sri Lanka’s Navy and has extended various forms of security assistance.

She emphasised the US government’s commitment to enhancing the Port of Colombo’s capacity through substantial financing from the US International Development Finance Corporation.

This 553 million dollar investment aims to expand the Port’s capabilities by nearly 50 percent, focusing on the construction of the West Container Terminal. The goal is to improve supply chain resilience and logistical efficiency in the region, she said.