Colombo: Sri Lankan and American military personnel have conducted a joint "humanitarian" exercise in the eastern Trincomalee region, with the focus on addressing complex challenges and providing assistance to disaster-hit people.
The exercise was held recently along side a seminar organised by the Disaster Management Centre and Ministry of Healthcare and Nutrition on disaster preparedness and medical response.
American military officials from Special Operations Command Pacific took part in the exercise, the US embassy here said in a statement, adding the focus of the exercise was humanitarian assistance.
"The training included advanced trauma medical care and the safe disposal of unexploded ordnance, coping with post-traumatic stress and preventive health care," it said.
The joint teams of US and Sri Lankan military personnel and civilian health activists worked with people from 27 rural communities and visited over 700 families in Sri Lanka.
"The joint exercise helped members from our two militaries to exchange best practices on how to address complex humanitarian challenges," according to Lt Col Larry Smith, the US Defence Attache.
"US and Sri Lanka have a long tradition of cooperation. We hope this partnership can be expanded," he said.
Meanwhile, a US Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded study has identified investment opportunities in the aquaculture sector in the Eastern Province.
Aquaculture or fish farming has the potential for significant growth in the East, given the availability of suitable land and a strong export demand for fish and seafood, the US embassy statement said.
There is a high potential to create new jobs in the East, while using environment-friendly techniques through growth in
aquaculture, it said.
The USAID is also linking more than 2,000 farmers in Eastern Ampara and Southern Monaragala districts to new markets for a special variety of papaya, providing supplemental income to participating families.
US Ambassador Patricia A Butenis and USAID Mission Director Rebecca Cohn met recently with some of the participants in Monaragala district, the statement said.
Of the 2,135 farmers participating in this USAID-funded project, more than 1,400 have already planted 200 acres of papaya, it said.
PTI
