[lkdood]

The Sri Lankan military and the US Navy have conducted a joint humanitarian exercise in Trincomalee in the country's east, the US embassy said Friday.

The event included civilians from the Disaster Management Centre and the ministry of healthcare and nutrition. The focus of the exercise was humanitarian assistance, an embassy statement said.

The training included advanced trauma medical care and the safe disposal of unexploded ordnance, coping with post-traumatic stress, and preventive health care.
The joint teams of US and Sri Lankan military personnel and civilian health workers worked with people from 27 rural communities and visited over 700 families.

Said Lt Col Larry Smith, the US defense attache: 'The joint exercise helped members from our two militaries to exchange best practices on how to address complex humanitarian challenges.'

He added: 'The US and Sri Lanka have a long tradition of cooperation. We hope this partnership can be expanded.'

[sandun_kg]