US provides Sri Lanka Navy with radiation and chemical detection equipment

The US Embassy in Colombo has provided advanced radiation and chemical detection equipment valued at $1 million (299 million LKR) to the Sri Lanka Navy, contributing to the Asian country’s capabilities to identify and respond to nuclear, radiological, and chemical threats in the maritime domain. The equipment was officially handed over during a ceremony at Sri Lanka Navy Headquarters attended by US Ambassador Julie Chung and Sri Lanka Navy Commander Vice Admiral Kanchana Banagoda. It allows conducting visit, board, search, and seizure (VBSS) operations in the Indian Ocean and enhances the ability to detect and intercept chemical, radiological, and nuclear materials. Ambassador Chung said the equipment is an essential tool for safeguarding Sri Lanka’s maritime borders and ensuring regional security. This transfer is the first major initiative following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in 2024 between the Sri Lanka Navy and the US Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE/NNSA). The MOU aims to strengthen bilateral cooperation against the illegal transport of nuclear and radioactive materials.