Australia gifts KA350 aircraft to boost Sri Lanka’s maritime surveillance

To strengthen bilateral relations between Australia and Sri Lanka, the Australian Government has announced that it will be gifting a former Royal Australian Air Force Beechcraft KA350 King Air aircraft to the Sri Lankan Government. The aircraft will be utilized to enhance Sri Lanka’s sovereign aerial maritime surveillance capability.

According to a statement released by the Sri Lankan Presidential Media Division (PMD), the aircraft will play a crucial role in Sri Lanka’s efforts to ensure maritime security and combat naval threats such as drug trafficking, people smuggling, and illegal fishing.

The announcement has been warmly welcomed by the Sri Lankan Government, with the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in Australia, His Excellency Jayasinghe Mohottala, expressing his gratitude for the generous gift.

The Beechcraft KA350 King Air is a highly versatile aircraft, with a range of capabilities that make it ideal for surveillance operations. It is fitted with state-of-the-art avionics and mission systems that enable it to perform a wide range of tasks, from aerial surveillance and reconnaissance to maritime patrol and search and rescue operations.

The gift of the aircraft is a testament to the strong ties between Australia and Sri Lanka and is expected to further enhance cooperation between the two countries in the areas of security and defence.