US, Sri Lanka to conduct joint disaster-response exercise Atlas Angel II
COLOMBO – The United States and Sri Lanka will conduct a joint military exercise, Atlas Angel II, from August 31 to September 4, focusing on strengthening cooperation and preparedness for humanitarian assistance and disaster-response operations, the US Embassy in Colombo said.
The exercise will bring together US and Sri Lankan military personnel and subject-matter experts for joint training and knowledge-sharing in areas including C-130 aircraft maintenance, urban search and rescue, incident command systems, construction engineering, landslide response, and response to chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive hazards.
Montana National Guard teams, led by Assistant Adjutant General for Air Brigadier General Trace Thomas and Assistant Adjutant General for Army Brigadier General Renea Dorvall, will participate alongside personnel from the Sri Lanka Air Force and the US Pacific Air Forces (PACAF).
Observers from the United Kingdom and Bangladesh will also participate in the exercise.
The exercise will be centred at Sri Lanka Air Force Base Katunayake and in Kandy, with the aim of strengthening practical cooperation and interoperability between US and Sri Lankan forces in humanitarian assistance and disaster response.
US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Eric Meyer said the exercise demonstrated the importance of preparing for disasters before they occur.
“The United States and Sri Lanka have a shared interest in being prepared when disasters strike,” Meyer said, adding, “Atlas Angel is a strong example of what our partnership looks like in practice – Americans and Sri Lankans training together, sharing expertise, and learning from one another,” he said.
Meyer said the partnership between the Montana National Guard and Sri Lanka was helping strengthen readiness to protect lives and livelihoods and contribute to a more secure and resilient Indo-Pacific region.
Sri Lanka Air Force Commander Air Marshal Bandu Edirisinghe said natural disasters did not recognize national borders or economic differences and could affect countries regardless of their level of development.
Through Atlas Angel II, multiple countries were coming together to enhance their ability to respond collectively to people affected by disasters, he said.
The importance of such cooperation was demonstrated during Cyclone Ditwah in December 2025, when US and Sri Lankan forces worked together to provide logistical assistance to affected communities. Two US Air Force C-130J Super Hercules aircraft were used to deliver supplies during the response.
The US Embassy said joint exercises such as Atlas Angel II were intended to ensure that personnel, procedures and working relationships were established before a real-world emergency occurred, enabling the two countries’ forces to communicate and coordinate more effectively during crises.
The exercise builds on a partnership between the Montana National Guard and Sri Lanka established in 2021 under the US Department of War State Partnership Program.
The partnership has involved joint training, expert exchanges and reciprocal visits. Cooperation was further formalized through a memorandum of understanding signed in November 2025 between the Montana National Guard, US Coast Guard District 13 and the Sri Lankan Armed Forces covering areas including disaster response, aviation and maritime security.
Under the partnership, Montana National Guard personnel share their experience in responding to wildfires, floods and other emergencies, while also learning from Sri Lanka’s experience in disaster response in the region.
As part of Atlas Angel II, musicians from the US Air Forces Band of the Pacific will also work and perform alongside their Sri Lankan counterparts, with the program intended to strengthen professional and people-to-people ties through music.
The Montana National Guard comprises primarily citizen-Soldiers and Airmen who serve their communities, state and nation while maintaining civilian careers. Its personnel support a range of missions, including national defence and emergency response.
-ENCL
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