Bhathiya Barukanda
Officials of the Sri Lanka Coast Guard, EXBS, Aitken-Spence, Amentum Corporation, dear colleagues, and friends
It is a great pleasure to be here with you at the Inauguration of the Sri Lanka Coast Guard “Ship in a Box” simulator and to have the team that has helped build this wonderful project with us today, several of whom have traveled from the United States. Funding for the Ship-in-a-Box comes from our Export Control and Border Security (EXBS) Program to support our partnership with Sri Lanka to promote and protect freedom of movement in the Indo-Pacific region. I would also like to acknowledge the representatives from Aitken-Spence, Chief Executive Officer Mr. Janaka Gunawardhana and Chief Operating Officer Mr. Sharmilal Anthony. And a special welcome to Amentum Corporation Deputy Program Manager Mr. Daniel Kumor and Project Manager Mr. Casey Hart. You have all performed a great service to the Sri Lanka Coast Guard.
And of course, I particularly would like to thank the Sri Lanka Coast Guard led by the Director General, Rear Admiral Pujitha Vithana and his team for your partnership.
We are all here today because we share a common goal of making the global community safer by countering transnational organized crime and increasing maritime security in the Indian Ocean.
Sri Lanka’s waters host vital trade routes that maintain the global supply networks and carry goods all over the world. Uniquely positioned in the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka plays a key role in leading efforts to increase maritime security and prevent the illegal activities and movements of illicit enterprises. The U.S. government, along with our partners and friends, recognize just how important the ports and shipping industries are to economic development in Sri Lanka, and other countries across the Indo-Pacific region. All of you here today play an integral role in strengthening the global supply chain, which is vital to Sri Lanka, to the United States and just about every other country around the world.
I’m so pleased to be here today with you all to learn about how the Sri Lanka Coast Guard intends to use this innovative simulator to enhance training for your personnel and allied agencies, including the Sri Lanka Navy, to practice maritime tactics in a safe and controlled manner, better preparing them for real-world scenarios. Training facilities like this will equip Sri Lankan security forces with the practical experience and capacity to protect these vital shipping lanes utilized by the cargo vessels feeding the global economy.
This country recently experienced one of the greatest economic challenges in its history, and I know how difficult these past few years have been for Sri Lankans. The United States has stood by our Sri Lankan partners through these challenging times, especially through our ongoing efforts to promote economic prosperity, food security, and inclusive governance. Strengthening Sri Lanka’s criminal justice and maritime security sector is also a critical component of our partnership. The rule of law, equal access to justice, accountability and victims’ rights are pillars of all democratic legal systems and are essential to the safety and well-being of all Sri Lanka’s citizens.
Effective maritime law enforcement and the skills required to conduct thorough and successful criminal investigations are essential to stopping the proliferation of criminal activities in the maritime arena. Today, we see an increasing number of maritime-related crimes all around the world as a result of many factors, including increased poverty and economic hardship.
Transnational crime, to include human trafficking, drug smuggling, and piracy, perpetuates across the Indo-Pacific region. Our governments and our agencies tasked with law enforcement duties must cooperate to hold these suspects accountable. Constant monitoring and policing of the vast Indian Ocean is extremely challenging, especially given limited resources and personnel. We recognize the importance of building the capacity of Sri Lanka’s law enforcement agencies to improve our interdiction efforts, investigation capacities, and our prosecutions and eliminate criminal activities in its waters.
Let us work together to raise awareness and support our maritime law enforcement agencies for their service in preventing the transportation of narcotics, trafficking of persons, and other smuggling activities to and from our shores. Through public awareness campaigns at all levels of our educational systems, we can promote a culture of awareness, prevention, and accountability, empowering individuals to report maritime crimes and help reduce the threats to our countries.
All of us must ensure that maritime security laws and policies are up to date and effective in dealing with today’s transnational threats. I know Sri Lanka’s government is working on amendments to the Coast Guard Law, which will have long term benefits for the country. By being more proactive in each of the areas
I have mentioned, we can serve our citizens more effectively.
In conclusion, the fight against maritime crime in Sri Lanka requires a united front, with our citizens, private industries, and institutions all working together. This fight cannot be won overnight, but with determination, cooperation, and a sustained effort, we can turn the tide. Together, we can build a future where our children and grandchildren are free from the effects of transnational crime, and our nations can prosper in peace and prosperity. This training center we are inaugurating today will certainly play an important role in building the capacity of the Sri Lanka Coast Guard to fight crime, protect the marine environment, and ensure that Sri Lanka can keep its territorial waters safe for all.
I want to say thank you once more to everyone here, to our distinguished colleagues from the Sri Lanka Coast Guard, EXBS, Aitken-Spence, Amentum, and USDOJ-ICITAP for your hard work, dedication, and continued partnership.
Source: https://lk.usembassy.gov
