Sri Lanka, Aug. 17 -- Deputy Minister of Defence Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd) visited the USS Santa Barbara (LCS), an Independence-class Littoral Combat Ship of the United States Navy, currently docked at the Port of Colombo, on Saturday (Aug 16).

Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd) and Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy Vice Admiral Kanchana Banagoda also joined the Deputy Minister on this occasion, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement.

The group was received by U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung and U.S. Defence Attache Lieutenant Colonel Matthew House, reflecting the close and cooperative ties between the two nations.

The visit served to explore future avenues for collaboration in maritim...