INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
The Ministry of Defence today (March 29) clarified the media reports on the maritime security pacts signed with the Indian government for
the receipt of Floating Dock Facility, Dornier Reconnaissance Aircraft, and the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Colombo (MRCC).In a
statement, the ministry noted that the recently signed maritime security pacts with India will neither result in hindrance nor threat to the
national security of Sri Lanka, as misinterpreted by several print and electronic media.According to the ministry, the receipt of the
Floating Dock Facility from India at no cost has been projected to reduce the annual outlay of Rs
600 million for outsourced docking repairs and this proposal has been in the pipeline since the year 2015.With regard to the Dornier
Reconnaissance Aircraft, the Defence Ministry explained that it is basically deployed for maritime surveillance, search and rescue
operations and to deliver information to various required platforms.The ministry stated that the unavailability of this capability was the
motive for bilateral dialogues between the Governments of India and Sri Lanka during the last couple of years and it was agreed upon to
earmarked for manufacturing process of the said aircraft, the Government of India will lend a similar aircraft which will be piloted by Sri
Lanka Air Force (SLAF) pilots
An Indian training team will also arrive and stay on the island until the SLAF gains the required expertise
Thus, SLAF aircrew will receive an added qualification enabling the country to further strengthen its maritime security while cutting a
Ministers has granted approval for the proposal to establish MRCC with a US $ 6 million grant from the Government of India
the region and ensure the safety of vessels in compliance to various international conventions
Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) is the authority responsible for conducting Maritime Search and Rescue (SAR) operations for commercial ships around the
representative of the International Maritime Organization has entrusted the Maritime Search and Rescue operations for commercial ships to
MRCC covers the SAR responsibility for over 1,778,062.24 Km2 which is approx
27 times of the landmass of Sri Lanka
Ministry assured that prior to the signing of the aforementioned three pacts, it has followed the standard criteria and procedures while
This article first appeared/also appeared in https://adaderana.lk
