News
CARAT-21 involving Japan concluded in East, India denies it sought to conduct joint exercise with US here
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Three nation Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT–21) exercise involving the US Seventh Fleet, Japanese Maritime Self Force (JMSDH) and Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) concluded in Trincomalee amidst simmering controversy over a section of the local media reporting Sri Lanka turning down an Indian request for the use of Sri Lankan airspace for a joint exercise.The US has termed CARAT-21 as an exercise involving the USN and its partner nations in South and Southeast Asia as part of their overall Indo-Pacific strategy.
Foreign forces and SLN concluded weeklong CARAT-21 conducted in the Trincomalee harbour and off the eastern coast of Sri Lanka on June 30.
Indian High Commission sources said that there was absolutely no basis for reports in a section of the media that Sri Lankan authorities had declined a request by India to use the Sri Lankan airspace for a Joint Military Exercise with a third country. Sources emphasized that such a request hadn’t been made by India for using the Sri Lankan airspace in the recent past for the purpose of any joint exercise with a third country.
The Island learns that the third country referred to by the Indian High Commission was the US. There had never been a reported instance of Quad members US and India conducting a joint military exercise in Sri Lankan waters or airspace though they conduct regular exercises. However, the US and another Quad member Japan conducted CARAT-21 in eastern theatre. Deployed assets included USS Charleston (LCS 18) and a P-8A Poseidon aircraft Advanced Offshore Patrol Vessels SLNS Indian-built SLNS Sayurala (P623), JMSDF Asagiri-class destroyer JS Yuugiri (DD-153).
CARAT-21 marks the commencement of the first cooperation afloat readiness and training event to be held in 2021, where representatives from the U.S. Navy and the armed forces of Sri Lanka and Japan participated. JMSDF had joined CARAT-21 for the first time making it a multilateral exercise.
For the first time, the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the EU Critical Maritime Route Wider Indian Ocean (CRIMARIO) participated in the exercise.
Sri Lanka entered into ACSA (Access and Cross Servicing Agreement) with the US in August 2017. Sources said that contrary to reports, Quad members-US, India, Japan and Australia maintain close relationship with the Sri Lankan military.
pic caption: CARAT-21 underway off Trincomlee (pic courtey SLN)
The government, under heavy Opposition fire over inclusion of a sex website in the Grade 6 English module, as well as overall education reforms, has decided to put on hold reforms in respect of Grade 6.
Cabinet Spokesman and Media and Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa announced the government decision yesterday (13) at the post-Cabinet media briefing at the Information Department.
According to him, the decision had been taken at the previous day’s Cabinet meeting, chaired by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Dr. Jayatissa said that education reforms pertaining to Garde 6 had been put on hold until 2027.
The Minister said that other proposed education reforms would be implemented as planned. The Minister said that action would be taken against those responsible for the inclusion of a link to a sex website following investigations conducted by the Criminal Investigation Department and the National Education Institute.
The SJB and several other political parties, as well as civil society groups, have accused the government of promoting an LGBTQ agenda, through the proposed education reforms.
The Opposition grouping Mahajana Handa, on Monday, made representations to the Mahanayake Thera of the Malwatta Chapter regarding the controversial reforms, while urging their intervention to halt the project.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday (13) vowed to go ahead with his government’s agenda, regardless of the destruction caused by Cyclone Ditwah.
Emphasising the responsibility on the part of all to contribute to the post-Ditwah recovery efforts, President Dissanayake said that he would have complete faith in the public service.
The President said so at the launch of the re-building Sri Lanka project at the BMICH yesterday.
The JVP and NPP leader said that he wouldn’t take advantage of the death and destruction caused by the cyclone or use the situation as an excuse to reverse their agenda or weaken it.
President Dissanayake said that in spite of many calling for amending the then Budget, in view of the cyclone, the government presented the proposals that were agreed before the disaster struck.
The United States has announced that it will provide the Sri Lanka Air Force with 10 US Navy TH-57 helicopters free of charge.
The announcement was made by outgoing US Ambassador Julie Chung, who stated, on social media, that the helicopters would be transferred under the United States’ Excess Defence Articles programme. The aircraft are Bell 206 Sea Ranger helicopters previously operated by the US Navy.
US sources said that the transfer was intended to strengthen Sri Lanka’s disaster response capabilities, following the devastating cyclone that struck the island at the end of 2025 and killed more than 600 people. US officials have framed the move as a humanitarian measure aimed at improving aerial rescue and relief operations.
Fair weather will prevail except for a few showers in the Uva, Eastern, Western and Central provinces and in Galle, Matara and Rathnapura districts
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