347 Personnel, 5 Days, 1 Mission: Atlas Angel II
Sri Lanka has launched Atlas Angel II - 2026, a major multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster response exercise aimed at strengthening emergency preparedness, search and rescue capabilities and international cooperation in responding to natural and man-made disasters. The five-day exercise commenced on Monday (August 31) at No. 2 Squadron, Sri Lanka Air Force Base Katunayake, under the leadership of the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) and in partnership with the Montana National Guard (MTNG) of the United States. The programme witnesses a collaboration involving the Sri Lanka Air Force, Army, Navy and Police, while also bringing together observers and experts from the United Kingdom, Bangladesh Air Force and several key civilian agencies. These include the Disaster Management Centre, Marine Environment Protection Authority, Sri Lanka Ports Authority, Airport and Aviation Services Sri Lanka, the National Authority for the Implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention, Suwa Seriya, the Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Regulatory Council, the Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Board and the Sri Lanka Coast Guard. A total of 347 personnel, including 71 foreign participants, are taking part in the exercise, which focuses on enhancing capabilities in Search and Rescue (SAR) as well as Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations. As part of the programme, participants will engage in eight specialised Subject Matter Expert Exchanges (SMEEs) covering a broad range of operational areas, including C-130 aircraft maintenance, sling load operations, Incident Command Systems (ICS), Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosive (CBRNE) response, performing arts, landslide response, urban search and rescue, medical response and construction engineering. Most of the activities will be conducted at SLAF Base Katunayake, while selected sessions will take place at SLAF Disaster Management Training School (DMTS) Digana. The exercise will also utilise Bell 412 and Bell 212 helicopters in support of training and operational scenarios. Atlas Angel II is designed to improve interoperability, communication and coordination among military and civilian agencies involved in emergency response operations. The initiative will feature workshops, training sessions, simulation exercises and professional exchanges aimed at strengthening mutual understanding of disaster management frameworks in both Sri Lanka and the United States.
