Govt. renews defence deal with the US

Cabinet has given approval to renew the acquisition and cross-servicing agreement between the Ministry of Defence of Sri Lanka and Department of Defence of the US this week. 

The agreement, which was signed on 5 March 2007 for a period of 10 years on the exchange of supply and services, training of staff and humanitarian aid in disaster situations, expired at the beginning of this year. 

According to Cabinet Co-spokesperson Gayantha Karunathilaka, President Maithripala Sirisena, in his capacity as the Minister of Defence, informed the Cabinet that the two parties had agreed to extend this agreement, which was approved by Cabinet. The agreement will be signed “in due course”, he said.