US to provide fourth Coast Guard ship soon

Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Richard Verma yesterday announced that US will provide another medium endurance cutter to Sri Lanka soon.

“I am pleased to announce that the Department of State has notified Congress of our intent to transfer a fourth medium endurance cutter to Sri Lanka”

Varma who was aboard the SLNS Vijayabahu, one of three former US Coast Guard cutters transferred by the US to the Sri Lanka Navy said that the Departement of State obligated US$ 9 million in Foreign Military Financing to support this effort.

“We look forward to offering the cutter, pending the completion of Congress’ notification period.If completed, this transfer would further strengthen defence cooperation between the United States and Sri Lanka”, Varma added.

The Deputy Secretary of State hoped that the ship would increase Sri Lanka’s ability to patrol its Exclusive Economic Zone, monitor its search and rescue area, and provide additional security for ships from all nations that transit the busy sea lanes of the Indian Ocean.

The US Ambassador in Colombo said the United States has previously transferred three cutters to the Sri Lankan Navy, which deploys these ships for maritime operations and law enforcement missions, countering human trafficking and drug trafficking, while supporting humanitarian assistance and disaster response efforts.

“The eventual transfer of a fourth vessel would be just one more point in a long history of cooperation between Sri Lanka and the United States in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region.”

Deputy Secretary Verma also visited the site of the West Container Terminal (WCT), a deepwater shipping container terminal in the Port of Colombo. The WCT, currently being constructed by Colombo West International Terminal (CWIT) Private Limited with $553 million in financing from the U.S.International Development Finance Corporation, will provide critical infrastructure for the South Asian region.

Verma also visited the site of the West Container Terminal (WCT), a deepwater shipping container terminal in the Port of Colombo. The WCT, currently being constructed by Colombo West International Terminal (CWIT) Private Limited with $553 million in financing from the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, will provide critical infrastructure for the South Asian region. Operating near capacity since 2021, the Port of Colombo’s new addition will be the port’s deepest terminal and aims to boost Colombo’s shipping capacity, expanding its role as a premiere logistics hub connecting major routes and markets, boosting prosperity for Sri Lanka without adding to its sovereign debt.

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