Admiral Stephen T. Koehler, Commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, met with Sri Lanka Navy Commander, Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera, during an official visit to Colombo today (10th October). The U.S. Admiral received a warm welcome and a Guard of Honour at the Navy Headquarters
Discussions focused on addressing rising security challenges in the Indian Ocean, enhancing maritime domain awareness, disaster response, and combating transnational threats. Both parties reaffirmed the growing cooperation between the U.S. and Sri Lanka Navy, emphasizing peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
Rear Admiral Kanchana Banagoda, the Chief of Staff of the Navy, along with senior officers from Navy Headquarters, and representatives from the U.S. Embassy in Colombo and the U.S. Navy, were present on this occasion.
Admiral Koehler also toured the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) and received a briefing on the Navy’s operations. The meeting concluded with an exchange of mementos, marking the significance of the visit.
