Today at Katunayake Air Base, two C-130J Super Hercules aircraft and personnel from the U.S. Air Force’s 36th Contingency Response Group (CRG) arrived to support Sri Lanka’s response to Cyclone Ditwah. U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung and Sri Lanka’s Deputy Minister of Defense, Major General KP Aruna Jayasekara (Retd.), welcomed the team upon arrival. U.S. and Sri Lankan partners are mobilizing immediately to deliver critical relief supplies to affected communities.
Airmen from the 36th CRG, based in Guam, along with other U.S. military units, will provide urgent airlift and logistics assistance to areas identified by the Sri Lankan Disaster Management Center. Additional support is being contributed by the U.S. Air Force’s 374th Airlift Wing (Yokota Air Base, Japan) and the U.S. Marine Corps’ III Marine Expeditionary Force (Okinawa, Japan). Also present for the arrival were Hon. Prof. Chrishantha Abeysena, Minister of Science and Technology; Hon. Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku, Deputy Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation; and Major General Sampath Kotuwegoda, Director General of the Disaster Management Center.
“Sri Lanka’s responders are doing heroic work,” Ambassador Chung stated. “The United States is here to help shoulder the burden—bringing American airlift and logistics support to deliver essential supplies to the hardest-hit areas, allowing Sri Lanka’s frontline teams to remain focused on the people who need them most. The United States stands firmly with Sri Lanka during this challenging time and remains committed to supporting recovery and rebuilding efforts.”
“When roads are strained and every minute counts, logistics becomes the lifeline,” said Matthew House, U.S. Embassy Senior Defense Official and Defense Attaché. “The United States is here with airlift capacity and coordination to keep that lifeline open. The C-130J Super Hercules is a proven workhorse—capable of rapidly and reliably transporting critical cargo when access is limited. Our regular joint training with the Sri Lankan Armed Forces has strengthened our partnership and enhanced our ability to operate together during crises like Cyclone Ditwah.”
Following a request from the Government of Sri Lanka and in coordination with the Sri Lankan Armed Forces, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) has deployed aircraft and personnel to assist with airlift and logistics operations related to the cyclone response. Working alongside the Sri Lanka Air Force, U.S. aircraft will support Sri Lanka-led missions transporting emergency supplies—including temporary shelter materials, safe water, sanitation and hygiene items, food assistance, and other essentials—from Katunayake Air Base to affected regions as local authorities determine priority needs.
The United States recently provided the Sri Lanka Air Force with a package of essential airlift and logistics-support equipment valued at approximately $2.1 million (about LKR 640 million). Delivered through U.S. security cooperation, the package includes fuel trucks, forklifts with sustainment parts, flood lights, ground power units with sustainment parts, and portable cargo-loading platforms. These capabilities—already in active use—strengthen the SLAF’s ability to rapidly receive, fuel, power, load, and transport relief supplies around the clock, ensuring faster and more efficient delivery of assistance.
Within 72 hours of Cyclone Ditwah’s landfall, the United States announced $2 million in support of disaster response efforts—demonstrating the goodwill of the American people and the enduring partnership with Sri Lanka. Through trusted humanitarian partners, this assistance will provide emergency shelter, water, sanitation and hygiene support, and health services for communities impacted by the storm. The United States continues to work closely with the Government of Sri Lanka as it leads recovery and reconstruction efforts following Tropical Cyclone Ditwah.
