Exercise “Pacific Angel 2025” successfully concludes
September 13, 2025The Exercise “Pacific Angel 2025” which commenced on Monday (Sep 08) came to a successful conclusion yesterday (12). The U.S. Embassy in Sri Lanka, together with the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) and the Ministry of Defence, marked the conclusion of Exercise Pacific Angel 2025 at a closing ceremony in Katunayake this evening.
Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd), graced the closing ceremony along with the U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung, and Air Force Commander Air Marshal Bandu Edirisinghe.
Pacific Angel 2025 brought Indo-Pacific partners together to strengthen disaster response and humanitarian cooperation. The exercise united participants from across the region including U.S. Pacific Forces, Royal Australian Air Force, Japan Air Self- Defence Force, Maldivian National Defence Force, and the Bangladesh Air Force, together with the Sri Lanka Navy and Army.
The program featured eight Subject Matter Expert Exchanges (SMEEs) covering aircraft maintenance, search and rescue, jungle survival, aeromedical patient movement, mass casualty response, and airlift operations. Training at SLAF Katunayake, China Bay, and Ampara gave participants hands-on skills to enhance regional readiness and coordination.
Defence Secretary, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd), extended his deepest gratitude on behalf of the government of Sri Lanka to all participating Nations to the Exercise Pacific Angel – 25, which highlighted the vital contribution of regional air forces in enhancing humanitarian assistance and disaster response capabilities. The Exercise strengthens interoperability and knowledge-sharing among Indo-Pacific partners, while also reflecting the longstanding and cooperative relationship between the United States and Sri Lanka. Such engagements provide an important platform to build resilience, strengthen mutual trust and contribute to the peace and stability of the region.
U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka, h. E. Julie Chung, highlighting the significance of the Exercise said “Pacific Angel 25 is the largest multilateral exercise hosted in Sri Lanka this year, and we are proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with our Indo-Pacific partners. This Exercise demonstrates how we prepare together for real-world challenges from disaster response to humanitarian crises and how cooperation strengthens our collective ability to safeguard peace, stability, and prosperity across the region, she said.
Apart from operations, the Pacific Air Forces Band “Final Approach” performed with the Sri Lanka Air Force Band, building camaraderie through music. Meanwhile, the U.S. Air Force and SLAF, working with Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Health, completed a refurbishment of the Divisional Hospital at Akaragama, bringing lasting benefits to local communities.
Pacific Angel 2025 demonstrated how Indo-Pacific partners are working side by side in Sri Lanka the host of the year’s largest multilateral exercise to prepare for crises, strengthen disaster response, and build lasting regional cooperation.
