The Hindu : U.S.-Sri Lanka to sign defence treaty

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, May 26, 2002

International

International

U.S.-Sri Lanka to sign defence treaty

By Nirupama Subramanian

COLOMBO MAY 25. Sri Lanka and the U.S. are to soon sign a defence pact that will set the stage for increased military cooperation between the two countries. Sources said the pact, known as the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement, is likely to be signed within a few weeks and will enable the U.S. and Sri Lanka to access each other's military facilities.

Defence Ministry officials said that effectively, the treaty would allow the U.S. military the use of Sri Lanka's sea and air bases, particularly for refuelling, in return for training assistance and supply of spare parts and repairs.

A U.S. Embassy spokesman here confirmed that the agreement was ready for signature, but said it was a "routine'' treaty that the U.S. had with more than 50 countries.

The agreement excludes the delivery of all equipment classified as lethal under the U.S. Munitions Act.

Sri Lanka already receives non-lethal assistance from the U.S. under an existing agreement. U.S. Marines have been providing training for Sri Lankan commandos under a programme called Operation Balance Style.

Also in the non-lethal category, the Air Force will take delivery soon of two surveillance aircraft fitted with special radar capability, from the U.S. defence company Raytheon.

The U.S. Government facilitated the purchase, but the spokesman said it was unconnected to the new agreement, and had been in the pipeline since 2000.

The new agreement will be signed against the background of the U.S.-led Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.

Two U.S. Navy ships, the USS Hopper and USS Sides, recently called in at the Colombo port, one for refuelling and the other on a rest-and recreation stop.

The USS Sides is providing logistical support for the operation in Afghanistan. These were the first visits by U.S. Naval ships to Sri Lanka in eight years.

For the Sri Lankan Government, more than the military assistance, the value of the new agreement is in the signals that it can send to the LTTE at a time when the two sides are engaged in a Norwegian-facilitated process to begin peace talks.

There has been a ceasefire between the Government and the LTTE since December 2001, which was converted into a formal truce in February.

The U.S. Embassy spokesman was emphatic that the treaty was unrelated to the ongoing ceasefire in Sri Lanka. But the Government is most likely to project it as the backing of the world's superpower for its peace efforts, not just to the LTTE, but also to the Sinhalese opponents of the peace process.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

International

Stories in this Section

Taiwan Air Crash: Scores of bodies recovered from sea

Summit a success, says Putin

U.K. media rapped for anti-Islam bias

Dialogue, not war: Dalai Lama

117 killed in train crash

Showcase of a splendid mix

Colombo nod for leasing oil farm to IOC

'India should play a more positive role'

ISI planning more attacks in Kashmir?

U.S.-Sri Lanka to sign defence treaty

'3 million may die in limited n-war'