Trilateral Secretariat on Maritime Security Cooperation established at Sri Lanka Navy Headquarters

 


Defence Advisors of the Maldivian and Indian High Commissions, meet with Secretary of Defence, General (Retd) Kamal Gunaratne, Foreign Secretary Admiral (Retd) Jayanath Colombage, Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne and Senior Navy officers at the launch of the new secretariat. (Pic - SLN)



Trilateral Secretariat on Maritime Security Cooperation established at Sri Lanka Navy HQ 

By Asiri Fernando 

A secretariat for trilateral national security advisors (NSA) was launched at the Navy Headquarters yesterday (01 March) to act as a platform to improve Maritime Security Cooperation between the Maldives, India and Sri Lanka. 

The need to establish a secretariat for the task was agreed upon during the fourth NSA level meeting between the three countries, hosted by Sri Lanka in November last year. According to the Navy, Director Naval Operations Rear Admiral Prasanna Mahawithana has been appointed as the coordinating officer of the new secretariat. 

"Through NSA -level meetings, it is expected to pay concerns into the current maritime security environment in the region and discussed mutual cooperation in the areas of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, joint exercises and capacity building," the Navy said. 

The Secretariat will also enable the stakeholders to explore new areas of cooperation in maritime security and maritime law, share information on evolving threats, and better respond to marine pollution, the Navy added. 

In 2019, the Sri Lankan Government awarded Bharat Electronics Ltd., an Indian State-owned aerospace and defence company, US $ 6 million to set up a Maritime Rescue Coordinating Centre (MRCC) in Sri Lanka. India has also assisted in improving Sri Lanka's coastal surveillance capability by providing  maritime surveillance radars to the Sri Lanka Navy in the recent past. 

India and Sri Lanka are in discussion regarding the possible acquisition of an Indian built Dornier 228 Maritime Patrol Aircraft to strengthen the Islands maritime domain awareness, and Search and Rescue capability. Indian has provided Dornier MPAs to Maldives and Seychelles in the recent past. 



   


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