Sri Lanka Navy Marines contingent, consisting of 13 Marine officers and 30 Marines, will participate in the world’s largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC 2026, in Hawaii and the Pacific region. The exercise, hosted by the U.S. Pacific Fleet, will be conducted from 24 June to 31 July 2026.
Sri Lanka Navy Marines will join personnel from 31 other nations, with more than 100 ships and approximately 25,000 sailors, Marines, and other military personnel participating in joint exercises, including amphibious operations, explosive ordnance disposal, advanced weapons training, anti-submarine warfare, air defence training, counter-piracy operations, and mine clearance activities.
Known as the “Rim of the Pacific Exercise” or RIMPAC, this biennial exercise is conducted during even-numbered years and 2026 marks the 30th edition of the exercise.
One of the youngest marine forces in the world, the Sri Lanka Navy Marine Battalion was established on 27 February 2017 at Mullikulam. The first batch consisted of six officers and 158 sailors. With the valuable support, training, and guidance provided by the U.S. Marine Corps, the SLN Marines have continued to develop their capabilities in line with international standards.
Apart from combat duties, SLN Marines are also trained in disaster management, humanitarian assistance, and first-responder roles during natural disasters.
Special appreciation should be extended to the leadership of the U.S. Marine Corps for initiating support following the U.S. Amphibious Leaders Conference in 2015 and to the leadership of the U.S. 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit for their continued assistance in training and logistics support.
With the participation in RIMPAC 2026, this will be the fourth RIMPAC exercise attended by Sri Lanka Navy Marines, following their participation in 2018, 2022, and 2024.
During RIMPAC 2018, the Sri Lanka Navy Marine contingent participated for the first time. In 2022, the Sri Lankan Marine contingent, consisting of four Marine officers, 44 Marines, and two Special Boat Squadron personnel, joined the exercise after travelling with the Royal Australian Navy’s HMAS Canberra-class amphibious ship to Hawaii.
Today, SLN Marines have earned a respected reputation among friendly nations. They operate from their own base with well-equipped training and accommodation facilities at Sampoor, Trincomalee, near Foul Point Lighthouse. The location provides suitable beaches and facilities for amphibious training, including Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) and landing craft operations.
One of the most unique training areas at the Sampoor Marine Training Base is “Snake Bay,” where Marines receive training in identifying and handling tropical snakes, both venomous and non-venomous.
The dedication and professionalism of Sri Lanka Navy Marines continue to bring pride and honour to Sri Lanka through participation in multinational joint exercises at home and abroad. We wish them success at RIMPAC 2026.
Attention is also drawn to the recent remarks by U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Paul Kapur, who stated that the Sri Lanka Navy is a partner in the U.S. Indo-Pacific Maritime Strategy during the handover of U.S. satellite communication equipment to the Sri Lanka Navy in Colombo.
