The visit reflects the United States’ partnership-based approach to humanitarian assistance, linking immediate post-disaster recovery with long-term resilience and institutional capacity building. Drawing on extensive experience in responding to natural disasters in the United States, the Montana National Guard team conducted site visits in Colombo, Badulla, Nuwara Eliya, Kandy, Matale, and Puttalam to support recovery planning and inform future U.S. humanitarian assistance decisions.
“This visit shows what the U.S.–Sri Lanka partnership looks like on the ground, where it matters most,” said Lt. Col. Matthew House, U.S. Defense Attaché and Senior Defense Official at the U.S. Embassy in Sri Lanka. “By working side by side with Sri Lankan counterparts, we are supporting recovery now while helping build stronger systems for the future.”
The engagement builds on a Memorandum of Understanding signed in November 2025 between Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Defense and the Montana National Guard, formalizing cooperation under the U.S. Department of War’s State Partnership Program. In Montana, the National Guard serves as the state’s primary responder during natural disasters, making the partnership a practical match with Sri Lanka’s disaster management institutions.
Brig. Gen. Trent Gibson, Adjutant General of the Montana National Guard, said the Guard’s experience in responding to wildfires, floods, and severe storms shapes its collaboration with Sri Lanka. “We are not just sharing technical expertise; we are building relationships grounded in trust, cooperation, and mutual respect,” he said.
The mission builds on years of cooperation through the State Partnership Program, including recent engagements such as ATLAS ANGEL 2024 and PACIFIC ANGEL 2025, where U.S. and Sri Lankan personnel worked together to enhance humanitarian assistance and disaster response readiness—relationships that proved critical following Cyclone Ditwah.
Sri Lankan officials welcomed the collaboration, noting its value for both recovery and future preparedness. Maj. Gen. Sampath Kotuwegoda (Retd), Director General of the Disaster Management Centre, said the insights and technical expertise provided by the Montana National Guard strengthened national capacity to manage future emergencies.
The visit follows broader U.S. support to Sri Lanka after Cyclone Ditwah, including 4 million U.S. dollars in humanitarian assistance, the transfer of 10 American-made Bell 206 helicopters to the Sri Lanka Air Force through the U.S. Excess Defense Articles program, and U.S. Air Force C-130 relief flights delivering critical aid. Together, these efforts underscore the United States’ continued commitment to supporting Sri Lanka’s recovery and long-term resilience through partnership and shared capability.
