READOUT: Pacific Fleet Commander’s travel to Sri Lanka, Feb. 19-21

25 February 2026

From U.S. Pacific Fleet Public Affairs

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, visited Sri Lanka alongside Fleet Master Chief Donald L. Davis, Jr., Feb. 19-21, 2026, to reaffirm the strong partnership between the United States and Sri Lanka.

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Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, travels to Colombo, Sri Lanka

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, salutes the sideboys during his arrival to Colombo, Sri Lanka, Feb. 19, 2026. The visit to Sri Lanka reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to building strong partnerships that advance a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jeremy R. Boan)

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, center, and Vice Adm. Kanchana Banagoda, commander of the Sri Lanka Navy, center left, pose for a photo with their staffs during Koehler’s visit to the Sri Lanka Naval Headquarters in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Feb. 20, 2026. The visit to Sri Lanka reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to building strong partnerships that advance a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jeremy R. Boan)

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, poses for a photo with Air Marshal Bandu Edirisinghe, commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force, and his staff during his visit to the Sri Lanka Air Force Headquarters in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Feb. 20, 2026. The visit to Sri Lanka reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to building strong partnerships that advance a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jeremy R. Boan)

Vice Adm. Kanchana Banagoda, commander of the Sri Lanka Navy, looks on Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, right, as he signs a guest book at the Sri Lanka Navy Headquarters during his visit to Colombo, Sri Lanka, Feb. 20, 2026. The visit to Sri Lanka reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to building strong partnerships that advance a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jeremy R. Boan)

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, conducts a pass-in-review of Sri Lankan Air Force personnel during his visit to the Sri Lanka Air Force Headquarters in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Feb. 20, 2026. The visit to Sri Lanka reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to building strong partnerships that advance a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jeremy R. Boan)

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, salutes during a pass-in-review of Sri Lankan Navy personnel during his visit to the Sri Lanka Naval Headquarters in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Feb. 20, 2026. The visit to Sri Lanka reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to building strong partnerships that advance a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jeremy R. Boan)

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, conducts a pass-in-review of Sri Lankan Navy personnel during his visit to the Sri Lanka Naval Headquarters in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Feb. 20, 2026. The visit to Sri Lanka reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to building strong partnerships that advance a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jeremy R. Boan)

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, salutes during a pass-in-review of Sri Lankan Air Force personnel during his visit to the Sri Lanka Air Force Headquarters in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Feb. 20, 2026. The visit to Sri Lanka reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to building strong partnerships that advance a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jeremy R. Boan)

Koehler met with several senior government and military Sri Lankan and U.S. officials in Colombo to discuss shared security challenges, collaboration on maritime domain awareness and disaster response, and cooperation between naval forces, especially in the critical Indian Ocean region, including:

Arun Hemachandra, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs
Aruna Jayasekara, Deputy Minister of Defence
Sampath Thuyacontha, Secretary of Defence
Vice Adm. Kanchana Banagoda, Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy
Air Marshal Bandu Edirisinghe, Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force
Jayne Howell, U.S. Chargé d'Affaires

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, and U.S. Charge d'Affaires to Sri Lanka Jayne Howell, left, meet with the Honorable Arun Hemachandra, Sri Lanka Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, during Koehler’s visit to Colombo, Sri Lanka, Feb. 20, 2026. The visit to Sri Lanka reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to building strong partnerships that advance a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jeremy R. Boan)

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, and Sri Lanka Deputy Minister of Defence Aruna Jayasekara pose for a photo during Koehler’s visit to Colombo, Sri Lanka, Feb. 20, 2026. The visit to Sri Lanka reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to building strong partnerships that advance a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jeremy R. Boan)

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, right, meets with Sri Lanka Secretary of Defence Sampath Thuyacontha during Koehler’s visit to Colombo, Sri Lanka, Feb. 19, 2026. The visit to Sri Lanka reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to building strong partnerships that advance a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jeremy R. Boan)

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, left, and Vice Adm. Kanchana Banagoda, commander of the Sri Lanka Navy, pose for a photo during Koehler’s visit to the Sri Lanka Naval Headquarters in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Feb. 20, 2026. The visit to Sri Lanka reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to building strong partnerships that advance a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jeremy R. Boan)

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, meets with Air Marshal Bandu Edirisinghe, commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force, during his visit to the Sri Lanka Air Force Headquarters in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Feb. 20, 2026. The visit to Sri Lanka reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to building strong partnerships that advance a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jeremy R. Boan)

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, and U.S. Charge d'Affaires to Sri Lanka Jayne Howell pose for a photo during Koehler’s visit to Colombo, Sri Lanka, Feb. 19, 2026. The visit to Sri Lanka reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to building strong partnerships that advance a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jeremy R. Boan)

U.S. Pacific Fleet Master Chief Don Davis and Sri Lankan Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy AHD Weeratunga poses for a photo during Davis’ visit to Colombo, Sri Lanka, Feb. 20, 2026. The visit to Sri Lanka reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to building strong partnerships that advance a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jeremy R. Boan)

U.S. Pacific Fleet Master Chief Don Davis converses with Sri Lankan Command Master Warrant Officer of the Sri Lanka Air Force M Damith during Davis’ visit to Colombo, Sri Lanka, Feb. 20, 2026. The visit to Sri Lanka reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to building strong partnerships that advance a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jeremy R. Boan)

Koehler’s visit included a tour of Colombo Dockyard and Port, where he spoke with the Ports Authority leadership to discuss opportunities to strengthen maritime security and preserve sovereignty.

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, tours Colombo Dockyard with Dockyard leadership during his visit to Sri Lanka, Feb. 20, 2026. The visit to Sri Lanka reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to building strong partnerships that advance a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jeremy R. Boan)

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, receives a tour of Colombo Port from Capt. Nirmal Silva, Colombo Port Harbour Master, during his visit to Sri Lanka, Feb. 20, 2026. The visit to Sri Lanka reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to building strong partnerships that advance a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jeremy R. Boan)

The visit to Sri Lanka reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to building strong partnerships that advance a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific.