At a ceremony held at the Sri Lanka Air Force Base Katunayake, U.S. Navy Admiral Steve Koehler presented a Beechcraft King Air 360ER aircraft to the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF), symbolizing the strong partnership between the U.S. and Sri Lanka. The event featured U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung, Defense Secretary Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd), and SLAF Commander Air Marshal Udeni Rajapaksa. This donation enhances Sri Lanka's maritime security capabilities, enabling improved patrols, countermeasures against maritime threats, and protection of vital Indian Ocean trade routes.

Ambassador Chung emphasized the importance of the aircraft in strengthening U.S.-Sri Lanka relations and its role in promoting peace in the Indo-Pacific region. She highlighted the necessity of maritime domain awareness for safeguarding Sri Lanka's economic interests against illegal activities such as fishing, smuggling, and human trafficking. Air Marshal Rajapaksa expressed gratitude for King Air's arrival, viewing it as a pivotal milestone in enhancing the SLAF's maritime capabilities and a commitment to collective security in the Indian Ocean region.

Admiral Koehler reiterated the U.S. commitment to regional security and collaboration with Sri Lanka, framing the aircraft transfer as a symbol of the shared dedication to protecting sovereignty and addressing maritime challenges. The King Air, financed by the U.S. Department of Defense's Building Partner Capacity program and equipped with maritime surveillance upgrades, underwent specialized training for SLAF personnel. It will be stationed at Ratmalana Air Force Base and assigned to Maritime Patrol Squadron 3 in Trincomalee, with further training planned over the coming months.