(LANKAPUVATH | COLOMBO) –The Navies of India, Sri Lanka, and Maldives have commenced a focused operation which aims to enhance the interoperability between the maritime security agencies of the three countries in the Indian Ocean Region.
The Tri Lateral Focused Operations, between India- Sri Lanka- Maldives commenced at Sea from 27-28 November 2021, the Indian High Commission in Colombo said.
“The two-day exercise under the aegis of Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) is a pioneering effort to collaborate efforts towards the Pillar of Maritime Security,” the High Commission said in a statement.
The CSC Focused Operations are aimed at streamlining Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and enhanced interoperability amongst the three navies.
The Indian Navy is represented by INS Subhadra Offshore Patrol Vessel and P8I Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft, whilst SLNS Samudura and MNDF Maritime Reconnaissance Aircraft Dornier are participating from Sri Lanka Navy and Maldives National Defense Forces respectively.
The two day engagement will have the platforms engage in coordinated maritime surveillance in respective EEZ for counter narcotics, Search and Rescue at Sea, air tracking and establish effective Communication.
The CSC was institutionalized during the 4th National Security Adviser Tri Lateral meeting in November last year and the Secretariat was established in Colombo in March 2021.
Further, the CSC Deputy NSA’s meeting in August 2021, evolved actionable engagements to achieve greater interoperability and understanding towards tackling common Security Challenges in the region.
According to Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Defense, the three countries agreed to broad base cooperation by expanding the scope to improve intelligence sharing and include issues like terrorism, radicalization, extremism, drugs, arms & human trafficking, money laundering, cyber security and effect of climate change on maritime environment.
