Sri Lankan navy ships in the Indian Ocean
Sri Lanka has launched an enhanced maritime surveillance center in the Indian Ocean. According to President Ranil Wickremesinghe's office, the facility received support of six million dollars from neighboring India.
Sri Lanka has launched an enhanced maritime surveillance center in the Indian Ocean. As announced by President Ranil Wickremesinghe's office on Thursday, the facility is being supported by neighboring India with a grant of six million dollars (5.59 million euros).
India does not trust China's increasing presence in the Indian Ocean – including in Sri Lanka and the Maldives. Beijing is considered Sri Lanka's main lender and has co-financed several development projects on the island, including a little-used convention center and an airport in the city of Hambantota.
The new maritime surveillance center is based at the Sri Lankan Navy headquarters in Colombo and also includes seven remote stations along the island's eastern coast, including one near the Chinese-operated port in the city of Hambantota. Sri Lanka's marine rescue area covers an area of 1.77 million square kilometers. This extends from India to India, Australia and the Maldives.
The center was opened by Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. He said online that Colombo is an important part of India's maritime security and “neighborhood first” policy.
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