The United States and Sri Lanka have begun Atlas Angel II, a five-day exercise designed to strengthen their ability to respond jointly to disasters and humanitarian emergencies.
Running from August 31 to September 4, the exercise brings together U.S. and Sri Lankan military personnel and subject-matter experts for training and exchanges in areas considered critical to disaster response. These include C-130 aircraft maintenance, urban search and rescue, incident command systems, construction engineering, landslide response and chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive hazards.
The exercise is centred at Sri Lanka Air Force Base Katunayake and in Kandy. 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 are participating alongside personnel from the Sri Lanka Air Force and U.S. Pacific Air Forces (PACAF). Observers from the United Kingdom and Bangladesh are also taking part.
The exercise is intended to strengthen practical cooperation and interoperability between U.S. and Sri Lankan forces, particularly in humanitarian assistance and disaster response. The training is also designed to ensure that personnel from both countries are familiar with procedures and able to communicate and coordinate effectively before an emergency occurs.
U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka Eric Meyer said the two countries had a shared interest in being prepared for disasters and described Atlas Angel as an example of their partnership in practice.
“The United States and Sri Lanka have a shared interest in being prepared when disasters strike,” Meyer said. “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.”
Meyer said the cooperation was intended to strengthen readiness to protect American citizens and partners, safeguard lives and livelihoods, and contribute to a more secure and resilient Indo-Pacific.
Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force Air Marshal Bandu Edirisinghe emphasised the international nature of disaster response, saying natural disasters do not recognise national borders or economic strength.
“Through Atlas Angel II, we have truly redefined what Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Operations mean, with multiple nations coming together to learn how we can, as one, assist people regardless of where they may be,” Edirisinghe said.
The importance of such cooperation was demonstrated during Cyclone Ditwah in December 2025, when U.S. and Sri Lankan forces worked together to provide critical logistical support to affected communities. The operation included the use of two U.S. Air Force C-130J Super Hercules aircraft to deliver supplies.
According to the US Embassy in Colombo, exercises such as Atlas Angel II are intended to ensure that personnel, procedures and relationships are already established when the next emergency occurs. Training before a crisis allows participating forces to develop the ability to communicate, coordinate and operate effectively under real-world conditions.
The exercise builds on a partnership between the Montana National Guard and Sri Lanka established in 2021 under the U.S. Department of War State Partnership Program. The relationship has involved years of joint training, expert exchanges and reciprocal visits.
A November 2025 memorandum of understanding further formalised cooperation between the Montana National Guard, U.S. Coast Guard District 13 and the Sri Lanka Armed Forces in areas including disaster response, aviation and maritime security.
Through the partnership, Montana National Guard personnel share experience gained from responding to wildfires, floods and other emergencies, while learning from Sri Lanka’s extensive disaster response experience in the region.
Atlas Angel II will also include a cultural element. Musicians from the U.S. Air Forces Band of the Pacific will work and perform alongside their Sri Lankan counterparts, with the organisers describing the engagement as a means of strengthening professional and people-to-people ties through music.
The Montana National Guard consists primarily of citizen-Soldiers and Airmen who serve their communities, state and nation while maintaining civilian careers. Its personnel support missions ranging from national defence to emergency response.
With Atlas Angel II, the two countries are using joint training to build on an established defence partnership while focusing on a shared requirement that extends beyond military operations: the ability to respond rapidly and effectively when disasters strike.
