Military · Intelligence Cooperation

SL maintains multi-vector security partnerships — India (largest training/equipment), US (CARAT/IMET), China (hardware/training), Pakistan (long-standing inter-service ties). SIPRI records SL as recipient from India, China, Israel, Ukraine, US.

1. Apr 2024Confirmed · Tier-A source

   Mini CARAT SL bilateral exercise — partly conducted at Trincomalee, included VBSS drills directly relevant to NE waters enforcement.

2. 2024Confirmed · Tier-A source

   SL Defence Services Command & Staff College delegation visited Pakistan (Jul); 5th Pak–SL Armed Forces Dialogue concluded.

3. May 2025Confirmed · Tier-A source

   SL National Defence College delegation visited Pakistan.

4. Mar 2026Confirmed · Tier-A source

   SIPRI ATDB updated through end-2025; specific SL recipient queries available.

CARAT exercises at Trincomalee embed US naval doctrine and interoperability into SL's most strategic NE harbour — normalising NE military infrastructure as a shared security asset and reducing pressure on Colombo to demilitarise. Pakistan staff-college exchanges propagate counter-insurgency doctrine with implications for how SL conceptualises Tamil political challenges. China arms + Pakistan training + India MoU creates a rare multi-vector dependency that legitimises a securitised approach to the NE.