Sunday Times 2
Addressing maritime challenges of Sri Lanka
View(s):A workshop on developing Sri Lanka’s Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) was hosted by Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute (LKI), in collaboration with the Australian High Commission and the National Security College of the Australian National University, and held at the Lighthouse Auditorium on June 6. A special report assessing Sri Lanka’s maritime challenges and MDA capabilities, prepared by Dr David Brewster, Captain Simon Bateman (Rtd), and Dr Anthony Bergin from the Australian National University’s National Security College, was presented and discussed at the workshop. The event brought together key representatives from Sri Lankan maritime agencies to discuss the challenges and opportunities in enhancing Sri Lanka’s maritime domain awareness. The Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy attended the concluding discussions.
Executive Director of the LKI Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha highlighted the workshop’s importance in fostering stronger dialogue on Sri Lanka’s MDA and in addressing critical issues.
Dr Brewster explained that the report aims to provide a fresh perspective on Sri Lanka’s maritime challenges and capabilities, serving as a tool for future MDA initiatives. “We hope that this report, when finalised, will become a good reference work for addressing Sri Lanka’s maritime challenges.” Australian Deputy High Commissioner Lalita Kapur said: “We want to support Sri Lanka as it charts its own path in understanding its maritime domain.”
Director General of the Environment and Climate Change Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Rizvi Hassen commented on the significance of developing Sri Lanka’s MDA capabilities.
There were two panel discussions. Panelists highlighted critical needs and recommendations emphasising the necessity for underwater surveillance equipment to ensure the safety of undersea cables and underscored the growing importance of underwater domain awareness (UDA) in the Bay of Bengal. The need for clear identification of responsibilities among various agencies to improve coordination during maritime incidents was also discussed, along with the importance of ensuring that agencies are properly equipped and trained.
Discussions stressed the importance of resourcing relevant agencies to fulfill their legislative obligations effectively and proposed establishing a Maritime Safety and Environment Authority to enhance coordination and effectiveness in maritime safety and environmental protection.
The workshop featured local and international experts, including representatives from the Sri Lanka Navy, the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, the Department of Coast Conservation and Coastal Resource Management, the Maritime Environment Protection Agency, the National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency, and LKI.