The US Navy and Marine Corps will start the week-long exercise Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT)/ Marine Exercise (MAREX) Sri Lanka 2023 with the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) and Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) on January 19.

CARAT/MAREX Sri Lanka is a bilateral exercise between Sri Lanka and the US developed to promote local security cooperation, preserve and enhance maritime collaborations, and enhance maritime interoperability.This is the fifth CARAT/ MAREX workout in between the US and Sri Lanka, and this year consists of individuals from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and Maldives National Defence Force.Training exchanges will take place in Colombo and on the Sri Lanka Navy bases in Trincomalee and Mullikullam from January 19-26.

The United States, in our 75th year of bilateral relations with Sri Lanka, is proud to partner with the Sri Lanka Navy and the Sri Lanka Air Force for this training.

These yearly workouts are an essential opportunity for training to prepare for catastrophe relief and keep a free and open Indo-Pacific.

We are grateful for the invite to host the workout together, said U.S.

Ambassador Julie Chung relating to the upcoming exercise.The week-long exercise is developed to improve U.S.

and partner navies abilities to run together in response to traditional and non-traditional maritime security obstacles in the Indo-Pacific region and construct relationships through sports, cultural, and details exchanges.In addition to training for humanitarian disaster relief and lifesaving training, U.S.

and Sri Lankan servicemembers will take part in a Women, Peace and Security roundtable with the Ambassador Chung.During the workout, the 7th Fleet Navy band, in partnership with the Sri Lankan Navy band, will provide a series of totally free efficiencies in Colombo.