The United States government yesterday handed over to Sri Lankan authorities the Ex-USCG Decisive, a former US Coast Guard Cutter at a ceremony held in Baltimore, Maryland.

The transfer of the vessel was in discussion for several years and is the latest contribution by the United States to improve Sri Lanka’s maritime security capabilities. It is learnt that part of the vessel's crew has already arrived in the United States for training, and that the vessel is expected to sail for home port in the first quarter of next year.

The handing over ceremony was attended by the Sri Lankan Ambassador to the United States, Mahinda Samarasinghe and the Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Kanchana Banagoda.

The vessel, a decommissioned Reliance Class Cutter, is the fourth ex-US Coast Guard vessel to be donated to the Sri Lanka Navy, which uses them as Offshore Patrol Vessels.

Posting on ‘X’ the US State Department said “The United States is donating a fourth U.S. Coast Guard Cutter, the USCGC EX-DECISIVE, to the Sri Lankan Navy. This demonstrates the strength of U.S.-Sri Lanka defense ties, and commitment to promoting maritime security and disaster response in the region.”