Deputy Minister of Defence Reiterates Sri Lanka's Need for a
Comprehensive Maritime Strategy
March 09, 2025
As an island nation in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), Sri Lanka requires a well-defined maritime strategy that integrates economic, political and environmental considerations. In an era of rapidly evolving regional and global dynamics, reassessing existing maritime policies has become imperative to address emerging challenges and opportunities.
In this context, collaborative initiatives such as joint naval exercises, real-time information sharing and enhanced capacity-building are essential. These efforts foster innovation in maritime security strategies and facilitate expertise exchange among key stakeholders.
Deputy Minister of Defence, Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd), emphasized this necessity during his remarks at the networking dinner of the Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) Workshop. The event was held on Wednesday (Mar 5) at Cinnamon Life, City of Dreams, Colombo.
The MDA workshop was organized by the Geopolitical Cartographer, the Indian Ocean Think Tank and the Embassy of Japan in Sri Lanka, in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Navy and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The workshop featured prominent speakers, including Rishan de Silva, Executive Director of the Geopolitical Cartographer (GC), H.E. Akio Isomata, Ambassador of Japan to Sri Lanka and Hon. Arun Hemachandra, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.
The full-day workshop featured insightful presentations by subject matter experts, followed by a panel discussion on "Enhancing Maritime Awareness in South Asia: Challenges and Interagency Collaboration." The panel was moderated by Rear Admiral Jagath Ranasinghe (Retd) and included distinguished speakers such as Mr. Shinnosuke Nakata from the Japan Coast Guard, Ms. Shafina Aishath, Senior Programme Support Officer of UNODC, Dr. Nivedita Ray, Director (Research) of the Indian Council of World Affairs and Mr. Ameen Faisal, former Minister of Defence and National Security Advisor of the Maldives.
A practical demonstration on Vessel Boarding, Search and Seizure (VBSS) was conducted at Dikkowita Fisheries Harbour with the support of the Sri Lanka Navy and UNODC, further enhancing participants' understanding of maritime security operations.
The event brought together a diverse audience, including members of the diplomatic corps, Defence Ministry officials, representatives from public and private institutions, academia, professional bodies, international and regional partner agencies and distinguished experts in maritime security and related disciplines. Such collaborative engagements underscore the importance of regional and international partnerships in strengthening maritime domain awareness and ensuring security in the Indian Ocean Region.
