The United States Coast Guard has completed a program of training Sri Lankan port officials in Colombo this week, as relations between the two governments continue to grow, despite Sri Lanka’s history of rights abuses.

The US embassy announced that from February 11 – 13, more than 25 Sri Lankan port officials were trained on “security capacity building”.

“Sri Lanka’s improved maritime security will not only provide greater protection against terrorism and other threats but also will enhance trade with other countries, contributing to Sri Lanka’s prosperity,” said the US embassy in a press release.

“Sri Lanka has demonstrated a strong commitment to port security,” said Lieutenant Matt Arnold, the Coast Guard’s liaison to Sri Lanka for Port Security initiatives who headed the program.  “This capacity building program helped create the security environment that’s essential to increased trade and realizing Sri Lanka’s goal of becoming a regional hub for commerce.”

US troops have strengthened their relationship with Sri Lanka since 2015, despite little action having been taken on accountability for violations of international law committed during the final phase of the armed conflict, in which tens of thousands of Tamils were killed.

Multiple training programs have taken place between the two and last week US Secretary of State said his government “remains eager” to grow ties with Sri Lanka.