SLAF INDUCTS TH-57 SEA RANGER HELICOPTERS TO STRENGTHEN ROTARY-WING TRAINING AND OPERATIONAL CAPABILITIES
The SLAF ceremonially inducted ten Bell 206 TH-57 Sea Ranger Helicopters into aircraft inventory today (23 June 2026) at SLAF Base Ratmalana during a prestigious ceremony headed by the President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, His Excellency Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
The helicopters were received from the Government of the United States of America under the Excess Defense Articles (EDA) Programme, reaffirming the strong and enduring partnership between Sri Lanka and the United States in the spheres of defence cooperation, professional military development and regional security.
The event was attended by distinguished dignitaries including Commander United States Pacific Air Forces, General Kevin B. Schneider, United States Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, Dr. S Paul Kapur, United States Chargé d'Affaires to Sri Lanka, Mrs. Jayne Howell, Senior Defense Official and Defense Attaché at the US Embassy in Sri Lanka, Lieutenant Colonel Matthew House, Deputy Minister of Defence Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd), Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd), Marshal of the Sri Lanka Air Force Roshan Goonetileke, Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Lasantha Rodrigo, Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Kanchana Banagoda, Inspector General of Police, Mr. Priyantha Weerasooriya, Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Air Vice Marshal Lasitha Sumanaweera, Deputy Chief of Staff, Air Vice Marshal Gihan Seneviratne, Members of the Air Force Board of Management and other distinguished guests.
The proceedings commenced with the arrival of His Excellency the President, who was accorded a Guard of Honour by the SLAF. This was followed by a spectacular flypast conducted by the newly inducted TH-57 Sea Ranger helicopters, symbolizing the beginning of a new chapter in rotary-wing aviation training and operational capability within the SLAF.
Subsequently, His Excellency the President, accompanied by the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Bandu Edirisinghe and distinguished official delegation, inspected the helicopters and received a comprehensive briefing on the aircraft's operational capabilities and intended role within the SLAF.
The formal proceedings continued with the ceremonial signing of the Handing Over and Taking Over documents, symbolizing the official transfer of the aircraft to the SLAF. The documents were exchanged between Commander of the United States Pacific Air Forces, General Kevin B. Schneider and Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force, Air Marshal Bandu Edirisinghe in the gracious presence of His Excellency the President and other distinguished dignitaries.
The TH-57 Sea Ranger, a military derivative of the renowned Bell 206 Jet Ranger family, has earned an international reputation for reliability, simplicity and versatility. The aircraft will significantly enhance the Sri Lanka Air Force's rotary-wing pilot training programme while also contributing to operational readiness, search and rescue missions and other national service requirements.
The ceremony concluded with the presentation of commemorative mementoes by the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Bandu Edirisinghe, to His Excellency the President, General Kevin B. Schneider, Dr. S. Paul Kapur, Mrs. Jayne Howell and other distinguished guests in appreciation of their contribution to this historic occasion.
The TH-57 Sea Ranger helicopters are expected to play a vital role in developing future generations of Sri Lanka Air Force rotary-wing pilots while enhancing the Air Force's capability to effectively respond to national emergencies and operational requirements in the years ahead.
The helicopters were received from the Government of the United States of America under the Excess Defense Articles (EDA) Programme, reaffirming the strong and enduring partnership between Sri Lanka and the United States in the spheres of defence cooperation, professional military development and regional security.
The event was attended by distinguished dignitaries including Commander United States Pacific Air Forces, General Kevin B. Schneider, United States Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, Dr. S Paul Kapur, United States Chargé d'Affaires to Sri Lanka, Mrs. Jayne Howell, Senior Defense Official and Defense Attaché at the US Embassy in Sri Lanka, Lieutenant Colonel Matthew House, Deputy Minister of Defence Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd), Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd), Marshal of the Sri Lanka Air Force Roshan Goonetileke, Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Lasantha Rodrigo, Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Kanchana Banagoda, Inspector General of Police, Mr. Priyantha Weerasooriya, Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Air Vice Marshal Lasitha Sumanaweera, Deputy Chief of Staff, Air Vice Marshal Gihan Seneviratne, Members of the Air Force Board of Management and other distinguished guests.
The proceedings commenced with the arrival of His Excellency the President, who was accorded a Guard of Honour by the SLAF. This was followed by a spectacular flypast conducted by the newly inducted TH-57 Sea Ranger helicopters, symbolizing the beginning of a new chapter in rotary-wing aviation training and operational capability within the SLAF.
Subsequently, His Excellency the President, accompanied by the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Bandu Edirisinghe and distinguished official delegation, inspected the helicopters and received a comprehensive briefing on the aircraft's operational capabilities and intended role within the SLAF.
The formal proceedings continued with the ceremonial signing of the Handing Over and Taking Over documents, symbolizing the official transfer of the aircraft to the SLAF. The documents were exchanged between Commander of the United States Pacific Air Forces, General Kevin B. Schneider and Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force, Air Marshal Bandu Edirisinghe in the gracious presence of His Excellency the President and other distinguished dignitaries.
The TH-57 Sea Ranger, a military derivative of the renowned Bell 206 Jet Ranger family, has earned an international reputation for reliability, simplicity and versatility. The aircraft will significantly enhance the Sri Lanka Air Force's rotary-wing pilot training programme while also contributing to operational readiness, search and rescue missions and other national service requirements.
The ceremony concluded with the presentation of commemorative mementoes by the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Bandu Edirisinghe, to His Excellency the President, General Kevin B. Schneider, Dr. S. Paul Kapur, Mrs. Jayne Howell and other distinguished guests in appreciation of their contribution to this historic occasion.
The TH-57 Sea Ranger helicopters are expected to play a vital role in developing future generations of Sri Lanka Air Force rotary-wing pilots while enhancing the Air Force's capability to effectively respond to national emergencies and operational requirements in the years ahead.
