'Ask the Defence Ministry'; Sabry on MCC, ACSA & US Planes

by Staff Writer 10-08-2023 | 6:57 PM

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka Foreign Minister Ali Sabry PC, on Thursday (10) informed the Parliament that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is not the focal point for the subject area that comes under the purview of MCC.

He was responding a question posed over the arrival of a top-level US delegation to Sri Lanka in February 2023.

"While the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the link between the foreign countries, entities, institutions, ministries, and departments in Sri Lanka, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is not the focal point for the subject area that comes under the purview of MCC. It is a proposed agreement between the US and Sri Lanka. The line ministry in this regard is the Ministry of Defence, and the information required may be obtained from the Ministry of Defence. ACSA is also an agreement that comes under the Defence Ministry, the relevant line is the Ministry of Defence, and the information required may be obtained from the Ministry of Defence," Ali Sabry gave a detailed explanation to the house, noting that any questions on the matter should be directed to the Defence Ministry.

The Foreign Minister also revealed certain details about two US military aircraft arriving at the Katunayake Airport in February 2023.

"Two planes arrived at BIA under number RCH 23/99-21421A and RCH 231/00215A. I further mentioned that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has only done the necessary diplomatic clearances for the 130 seat aircraft to fly to Sri Lanka. The chairman of the Airport and Aviation Private Limited has informed us that the names, passport numbers and visa numbers of the people who came on the two aircraft can be obtained from the Department of Immigration and Customs," said the Minister.

Further, Airport and Aviation Services Private Limited has informed the Foreign Ministry that they are not aware of which organization in the United States the said group belongs to, said Ali Sabry.

Two special US Air Force planes landed at the Katunayake Airport late on 14th February and left the following day.

Sources at the Katunayake International Airport told News 1st that these two special US Air Force planes reached Sri Lankan from a US Military Base in Greece.

These aircraft were identified as C-17 Globe masters.

It was reported that 29 personnel, including a high-level delegation from the United States of America arrived aboard these planes.

Local media had reported that the delegation included US Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Jedidiah Royal.