U.S. Military team in Sri Lanka on humanitarian mission

More than 40 United States service members arrived in Sri Lanka Saturday, August 14, to begin a six-day combined medical and engineering training mission with the Sri Lankan government and medical representatives from the Maldives and Mongolia, a press release issued by the U.S. Embassy in Sri Lanka said.

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 be in Sri Lanka from August 14 through 22 to participate in the humanitarian effort as part of Operation Pacific Angel 2010.
According to the U.S. Embassy in Colombo the mission will be conducted at various sites near Anuradhapura and Puttalam to offer free medical and dental care and also to feature repairs and construction to support local schools, the Embassy said.

(U.S. and Sri Lankan civil engineers cut boards used to build a stage for childrens' performances at the Semandaluwa Kanishta Vidyalaya school in Puttalam Township, Sri Lanka, Aug. 16, 2010. Photo from U.S. Pacific Air Forces's Photos - Pacific Angel-Sri Lanka)
This week's mission allows participating nations to hone their ability to work together and to practice their trades in non-clinical settings, while helping Sri Lankans in need of services, the Embassy said.
"It is a pleasure and an honor for me and my team of professional Airmen and Soldiers to be here as guests of the Sri Lankan government," Pacific Angel-Sri Lanka U.S. Air Force Reserves Colonel Wesley Cockman was quoted in the Embassy press release.
"We simply cannot wait to roll up our sleeves and get to work alongside Sri Lankan, Maldivian, and Mongolian professionals to provide medical and engineering services to those in need. Efforts like Pacific Angel demonstrate the United States' commitment to partnership as a means to maintain a peaceful and stable South Asian region," Colonel Cockman has said.
"We sincerely appreciate the invitation to come to Sri Lanka, and have been truly impressed by the hospitality we've witnessed," the mission commander has added.
Operation Pacific Angel is a joint and combined humanitarian assistance operation conducted in the Pacific area of responsibility to support U.S. Pacific Command's capacity-building efforts. This humanitarian and civic assistance program is aimed at improving military civic cooperation between the United States and countries throughout the Asia-Pacific region.
Pacific Angel events began today, and will continue through Saturday, Aug. 21 at several locations in the northwestern and north central regions. The Embassy said the people are welcome to visit and receive free treatments each day at the medical care centers from 9am-3pm.
The schedule of events as follows:

• Aug. 16-21 - Medical (Family Practice, Optometry, Dental - and Public Health education) care offered at Puttalam Town Hall
• Aug. 16-18 - Medical Care offered at District Hospital Medawachchiya
• Aug. 20-21 - Medical Care offered at Chettikulam School
• Aug. 16-21 - School repair project at Mahasiyambalagaskada Vidyalaya, Neriyakulam Township
• Aug. 16-21 - School repair project at Semandaluwa Kanishta Vidyalaya, Puttalam Township