Sri Lanka, June 23 -- The United States today formally transferred ten American-made TH-57 Sea Ranger (Bell 206) helicopters to the Sri Lanka Air Force, delivering a major boost to the country's helicopter training program, search-and-rescue capabilities, and the security of its air and maritime domains

Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, U.S. Pacific Air Forces Commander General Kevin Schneider, and U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Paul Kapur presided over the event at Ratmalana Air Force Base.

The Texas-built helicopters - transferred under the U.S. Excess Defense Articles (EDA) program - were previously flown by the U.S. Navy for pilot training and utility missions. They will now serve as the backbone of a modernized Sri ...