US donates EOD equipment to support UN missions

The US Embassy in Colombo, extending an impressive gesture of goodwill, donated Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) equipment to the Sri Lanka Army for the use of Combat Convoy Company (CCC) operations in the United Nations (UN) Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA).

On behalf of General Shavendra Silva, Chief of Defence Staff, Commander of the Army, the donation was accepted by the Chief Field Engineer of the Army and Colonel Commandant of Corps of Sri Lanka Engineers Major General Nihal Amarasekara and Commanding Officer of 14 CBRN Response Regiment of the Sri Lanka Engineers, Defense Ministry said.

A delegation, headed by Commander Ross Peters, the Chief in the Office of Defence Cooperation and Security Cooperation Specialist, Mr Kapila Dissanayake of the US Embassy recently made the donation after visiting the Sri Lanka Engineers camp in Mattegoda.

The equipment donated consist of 2 x Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV) and 6 x Bomb Disposal Suits (BD Suits). The Chief Field Engineer of the Sri Lanka Army and Colonel Commandant of the Corps of Sri Lanka Engineers Major General Nihal Amarasekara conveyed the Army’s sincere gratitude to the US government and the US Embassy in Sri Lanka for this gesture of goodwill.

The recipient also thanked Lieutenant Colonel Travis Cox, the Defence Attaché for making this donation a reality. He further reiterated that this equipment would definitely enhance the capabilities, confidence, credibility and capacity of the EOD operators in the field. The Head of the US delegation Commander Ross Peters, the Chief of the Office of Defence Cooperation expressed the willingness of the US Embassy to assist the Sri Lanka Army in future, too.