Representatives from the United States Pacific Command will join Sri Lankan partners to provide humanitarian and civic assistance to civilians in central and western Sri Lanka as part of Operation Pacific Angel 2010 scheduled from 14 – 22 August.

Operation Pacific Angel is a joint humanitarian assistance operation conducted in the Pacific to support U.S. Pacific Command's capacity-building efforts, stated US Air Force [13th Air Force].

They also said that this humanitarian and civic assistance programme is aimed at improving military-civic cooperation between the United States and countries throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

The 13th Air Force is leading this Pacific Air Force operation.

More than 40 representatives from the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, and the U.S. Marines, as well as American public health service practitioners, will participate in the humanitarian effort, US Air Force further said.

They will arrive in Sri Lanka via an Air National Guard KC-135 Strato-tanker and will join local non-governmental organizations, Sri Lankan military personnel, and civil health and engineering professionals to provide medical and engineering services.

The medical team will provide general medical care to local residents, including primary, dental, and optometry care. Additionally, U.S. and Sri Lankan medical experts will exchange best practices on public health and paediatric emergencies. The engineering team will provide plumbing, electrical and structural work on two local schools.

The United States and Sri Lanka militaries have a long history of partnership. This visit enhances that cooperation and expands the already strong relations between the two countries, the US Air Force added.