FINANCIAL CHRONICLE – Sri Lanka is encountering significant challenges in its maritime security sector, which are evolving at a pace that outstrips the capabilities of its relevant institutions, according to a researcher from a Colombo-based think tank.
Shayan Peris, who serves as a Research/Programme Officer at the Regional Centre for Strategic Studies (RCSS), emphasized the growing disparity between the nation’s capabilities and the actions required to address maritime threats.
The country is tasked with safeguarding an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of roughly 517,000 square kilometers while also maintaining maritime domain awareness. However, it is increasingly confronted with intricate issues, including human trafficking, illegal fishing, cyber threats, and marine pollution, as noted in a recent RCSS statement.
Peris remarked, “The governance of maritime affairs is fragmented among various agencies, lacking effective inter-agency collaboration. Moreover, our maritime surveillance and enforcement capabilities are inadequate. The Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) concerning research vessels have yet to be established, and we are facing critical shortfalls in areas such as intelligence fusion, preparedness for environmental responses, and contingency planning for cyber-maritime incidents.”
His comments were made during a presentation at The Asia Foundation, where he discussed “Sri Lanka’s evolving maritime security landscape and the expanding array of non-traditional security challenges in the Indian Ocean Region.”
The presentation delved into issues such as transnational crime, illegal fishing, environmental deterioration, gaps in maritime governance, and emerging technological threats that are influencing Sri Lanka’s maritime environment. It brought attention to pressing concerns, including drug trafficking via maritime routes, trade-based money laundering, illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, marine pollution incidents, and the increasing strategic risks posed by cyber threats, vulnerabilities in submarine cables, unmanned maritime systems, and AI-driven technologies.
Additionally, the discussion identified potential avenues for policy engagement and regional collaboration in areas like maritime environmental governance, reforms in fisheries management, enhancing coastal community resilience, and facilitating dialogues on maritime policy.
