US-Sri Lanka Strengthen Maritime Ties with New Vessel 📈

• Commissioning: President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and US Chargé d’Affaires Jayne Howell commissioned the _SLNS Samudravijaya_ at the Port of Colombo. • Strategic Asset: Formerly the US Coast Guard Cutter _Decisive_, this is the fourth vessel transferred to the Sri Lanka Navy under the US Excess Defence Articles Program. • Operational Role: The cutter will boost Sri Lanka’s capability to combat illegal fishing, narcotics trafficking, and conduct search and rescue operations, securing vital trade routes in the Indian Ocean. • Fleet Expansion: Sri Lanka now operates the world's largest fleet of cutters transferred through this US program, joining _SLNS Samudura_, _SLNS Gajabahu_, and _SLNS Vijayabahu_. • Historic Journey: The vessel completed a 12,000-nautical-mile voyage from Baltimore, marking the longest deployment for a Sri Lanka Navy crew and their first transit of the Panama Canal. This partnership underscores a shared commitment to maintaining a free and secure Indo-Pacific, further enhancing regional maritime security cooperation.