President discloses Indian, US, Australian military assistance to Sri Lanka

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, in his capacity as the Defence Minister, on Tuesday (18), told Parliament that his government would receive 10 TH 57 helicopters from the US in 2026.

TH 57 is a US Navy training helicopter, based on the commercial Bell Jet Ranger 206.

In addition, the US and Australia would provide Sri Lanka with two C 130 Hercules transporters in 2026 and 2027, respectively.

President Dissanayake was addressing the Parliament, during the committee-stage debate on the Heads of the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs.

The Budget head of the Ministry of Defence, taken up for debate, was passed by a 92-vote majority, with amendments.

Following the debate, Member of Parliament of the All-Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC) Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam, called for a division for the Budget head of the Ministry of Defence, and accordingly, 101 votes were cast in favour of it and 09 votes against.

Subsequently, Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam also called for a division for the Budget head of the Ministry of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs (225). Accordingly, 100 votes were cast in favour and 02 votes against.

President Dissanayake said that Sri Lanka had received 70 jeeps and technical equipment from India to strengthen the military, and New Delhi also offered to establish a military academy.