U.S. and Sri Lanka Conduct Maritime Security Training

The United States conducted two maritime security training initiatives with Sri Lankan government agencies in September 2026 to secure Indian Ocean trade routes. From September 21 to 25, the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Nuclear Smuggling Detection and Deterrence partnered with the Sri Lanka Navy in Colombo to develop standard operating procedures for detecting and preventing the illicit trafficking of nuclear and radioactive materials.

Earlier in the month, from September 9 to 11, the U.S. State Department's Office of Cooperative Threat Reduction and the Atlantic Council trained more than 40 officials to identify deceptive shipping practices and suspicious vessels to prevent sanctions evasion. U.S. Ambassador Eric Meyer stated that these partnerships provide practical tools to stop illicit materials before they move through Sri Lankan ports, noting that nuclear material in the wrong hands can have consequences beyond any one country's borders.

These security collaborations occur as the Sri Lanka Navy faces allegations of genocide and war crimes. This includes an ongoing investigation into an unauthorized detention facility located in Trincomalee.