The Sri Lanka Navy and the United States Navy commenced the Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training 2026 (CARAT 2026) maritime exercise in Sampoor, Trincomalee today, 27 July 2026
The opening ceremony was held under the patronage of the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Navy and Commander Eastern Naval Area, Rear Admiral Buddhika Liyanagamage.
The bilateral exercise is held with the aim of strengthening maritime security cooperation and enhancing operational interoperability between the two naval forces.
The exercise, which will run from 27 to 31 July, comprises a series of training activities involving the Sri Lanka Navy, including Navy Marines, Naval Infantry, the Sri Lanka Air Force, and the United States Marine Corps.
Training modules cover a wide range of operational areas, including operational synchronization (OPSO Syn), cyber security, diving and salvage, Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS), explosive ordnance disposal (EOD), maritime domain awareness (MDA), medical subject matter expert exchanges (SMEE), diving tactics (DIVTACS), replenishment at sea approach and Station Keeping By Distance Line (RASAPP & SKBDL), live-fire exercises and combat readiness assessment (LIVE FIREEX & CRAA), casualty evacuation (CASEVAC), search and rescue (SAR), photo exercises (PHOTOEX), Helicopter Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure (HVBSS) and snake handling demonstrations.
Among those attending the inauguration were Commandant of the China Bay Air Force Academy, Air Vice Marshal Amal Perera, Acting Flag Officer Commanding Naval Fleet, Commodore Dhanesh Pathberiya, Director Marine, Commodore Sanjeewa Kodikara, and Captain Michael J. Messenger, Deputy Commander of Expeditionary Strike Group SEVEN / Amphibious Force, Seventh Fleet / Task Force 76 of the United States Navy, along with military personnel from both countries.
