Sri Lanka, March 18 -- The United States Government has commenced transferring 10 TH-57 Sea Ranger helicopters to the Sri Lanka Air Force.

The Sri Lankan Embassy in Washington D.C. confirmed yesterday that the batch of TH-57 Sea Ranger helicopters, received as a donation, departed the US to Sri Lanka.

Transferred under a bilateral cooperation programme, the helicopters will enhance SLAF capabilities in training, surveillance, and operational support. The TH-57 Sea Ranger, a military variant of the Bell 206B-3 Jet Ranger, has a long service history with the United States Navy and other U.S. services since 1968.

U.S. officials described the transfer as another milestone in U.S.-Sri Lanka defence cooperation, strengthening regional securi...