First ever Staff Talks was held between the US Navy and SL Navy officials on board ‘USS Blue Ridge’

The team of high ranking officers of the US Navy headed by the Captain Wes Bannister and the Officers of the SL Navy headed by the Director General Operations, Rear Admiral Dharmendra Wettewa held Staff Talks on board the flag ship USS Blue Ridge on 29^th March 2016. This is the first ever instance where the two Navies held one to one discussions in respect of matters concerning bilateral training between the United States and Sri Lanka during Pacific Partnership, a joint effort between the United States, foreign militaries, and other organizations to conduct civil-military operations including humanitarian and civic assistance, as well as veterinary, medical, dental and civil engineering support.