Sri Lanka and the United States today celebrated the commissioning of ‘SLNS Samudravijaya’ at the Port of Colombo, following the vessel’s historic 12,000-nautical-mile voyage from Baltimore, Maryland—the longest journey ever undertaken by a Sri Lanka Navy crew to bring a vessel home and the Navy’s first transit of the Panama Canal.

The commissioning ceremony was attended by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and also U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Jayne Howell, according to a statement issued by the US Embassy in Sri Lanka.

The statement said that the vessel’s arrival and commissioning mark a significant milestone in the enduring partnership between the United States and Sri Lanka to strengthen maritime security, safeguard critical trade routes, and support a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific, according to a statement issued by the US Embassy in Sri Lanka. 

Also attending the ceremony were Deputy Minister of Defense Major General K. P. Aruna Jayasekara Retd Secretary of Defense Air Vice Marshal Retd. Sampath Thuyacontha, Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy Vice Admiral Kanchana Banagoda, U.S. Embassy Senior Defense Official and Defense Attaché Lieutenant Colonel Matthew House, and other distinguished guests.

The Embassy said that formerly the United States Coast Guard Cutter Decisive, SLNS Samudravijaya is the fourth former U.S. Coast Guard cutter transferred to the Sri Lanka Navy through the U.S. Excess Defense Articles Program. 

Decisive was built at the U.S. Coast Guard Yard in Baltimore, Maryland, and was also overhauled there in preparation for its transfer to Sri Lanka. 

The vessel will enhance Sri Lanka’s ability to patrol its waters, combat illegal fishing and maritime narcotics trafficking, conduct search and rescue operations, respond to humanitarian emergencies, and help safeguard one of the world’s most important maritime crossroads.

“Today, SLNS Samudravijaya begins a new chapter of service,” said Chargé d’Affaires Howell. “As a former United States Coast Guard cutter, she served the American people with distinction in support of security, law enforcement, and the protection of maritime interests. Her transfer to the Sri Lanka Navy reflects the trust and partnership that unite our two nations. As Sri Lanka continues to play an important role at the heart of the Indian Ocean, may this vessel stand as a lasting symbol of U.S.-Sri Lanka cooperation and our shared commitment to a free, secure, and prosperous Indo-Pacific. May she serve the people of Sri Lanka with honor and distinction in the years ahead.”

Departing Baltimore on February 20, the crew navigated a route spanning three oceans and multiple continents, with U.S. port calls in Key West, Florida; Los Angeles, California; Honolulu, Hawaii; and Guam, before arriving in Trincomalee on May 8, the statement said. 

Along the way, the crew was welcomed at U.S. ports and military installations, where they received logistical support and engaged with U.S. military and Coast Guard personnel, reflecting the close cooperation that underpins the U.S.-Sri Lanka security partnership.

The Embassy further stated that the vessel joins three former U.S. Coast Guard cutters already serving with distinction in the Sri Lanka Navy—SLNS Samudura, SLNS Gajabahu, and SLNS Vijayabahu. 

With the addition of SLNS Samudravijaya, Sri Lanka now operates four former U.S. Coast Guard cutters and the world’s largest fleet of cutters transferred through the U.S. Excess Defense Articles Program.

“Few partners have demonstrated the commitment to maintaining and operating these vessels as successfully as the Sri Lanka Navy,” said U.S. Defense Attaché Lieutenant Colonel Matthew House. “The outstanding condition and operational performance of SLNS Samudura, SLNS Gajabahu, and SLNS Vijayabahu are a testament to the professionalism and technical expertise of Sri Lankan sailors. Their stewardship of these vessels helped build the confidence that made this fourth transfer possible.”

Lieutenant Colonel House added, “The story of SLNS Samudravijaya is about more than a ship. It is about partnership, readiness, and shared security interests. The United States is proud to support capable partners who contribute to regional stability, safeguard maritime routes, and help ensure a secure and prosperous Indian Ocean.”

The commissioning of SLNS Samudravijaya marks another milestone in the longstanding defense partnership between the United States and Sri Lanka, it added. 

The statement further pointed out that through training, equipment transfers, professional exchanges, and operational cooperation, the two countries continue to strengthen maritime capabilities and advance shared goals of security, stability, and prosperity throughout the Indo-Pacific region.