SL Navy's joint operation with CMF useful for the country, says Navy
Sri Lanka’s naval involvement in the joint operation with the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) in the Red Sea and adjacent areas will be useful in many ways to the country, besides its contribution to its obligation of freedom of navigation protection, Navy Spokesman Captain Gayan Wickramasuriya said.
He said that the three week operation involving SLNS Gajabahu was the first major joint international operation involving the Sri Lanka Navy.
Following directions from President Ranil Wickremesinghe and instructions from Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera, SLNS Gajabahu sailed in February and completed an operation that lasted around three weeks.
“SL Navy has an obligation to the freedom of navigation protection. We are not for or against any group or person. We need to protect freedom of navigation as it has its implications for Sri Lanka as well,” he said.
He said that in the sea area where they conducted the patrol, there were some 500 fishing vessels, including Sri Lankan fishermen. “Our presence also gave confidence to the Sri Lankan fishermen.”.
Fishing boats from China, India, and the Maldives are also among those engaged in fishing in the region.
He said in addition to giving protection against sea pirates, the patrolling was also useful to minimise drug trafficking in the region.
During the operation, he said they intercepted an Iranian fishing trawler that was smuggling heroin. He said SL Navy had checked the vessel, but the herion had been dropped into the sea, therefore they could not detain the trawler.
Captain Wickramasuriya said that the patrolling was an ongoing exercise by the CMF and Sri Lanka would be taking part in future operations too.