United States and Sri Lanka launch Atlas Angel II military exercise

The United States and Sri Lanka have commenced Atlas Angel II, a bilateral military training exercise running from August 31 to September 4. The initiative focuses on enhancing disaster response capabilities, maritime security, and aviation readiness.

Training activities are centered at the Sri Lanka Air Force Base Katunayake and in Kandy. The curriculum includes C-130 aircraft maintenance, urban search and rescue, landslide response, construction engineering, and the management of chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive threats. The exercise also incorporates cultural exchanges between U.S. and Sri Lankan musicians to foster professional and interpersonal ties.

The program involves the Montana National Guard, the Sri Lanka Air Force, and the U.S. Pacific Air Forces, with observers from the United Kingdom and Bangladesh. This collaboration builds upon a partnership established in 2021 under the U.S. Department of War State Partnership Program and a Memorandum of Understanding signed in November 2025.