Today: 6 October 2025
17 August 2023
2 mins read

Sri Lanka appreciates India’s continued support in maritime surveillance

The Donier-228 maritime surveillance aircraft will replace the one which was handed over exactly a year ago to the island nation by the Indian government…reports Asian Lite News

Sri Lanka has thanked India for helping to protect the island nation’s airspace and the sea including its exclusive economic zone through maritime and coastal surveillance operations.

The gratitude towards India came on Wednesday from Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s senior Advisor on National Security Sagala Ratnayaka when he was accepting a successor Indian Navy Dornier aircraft handed over to the Sri Lanka Air Force. 

The Donier-228 maritime surveillance aircraft will replace the one which was handed over exactly a year ago to the island nation by the Indian government. 

The Dornier had to be returned to India for scheduled mandatory maintenance. 

Following a request by Sri Lanka during a bilateral security discussion on the potential acquisition of maritime surveillance aircraft between India and Sri Lanka in January 2018 in New Delhi, the Donier which was part of the Indian Navy’s fleet was given to Sri Lanka on free of cost for a span of two years.

Ratnayaka appreciated India’s support, especially during the financial crisis Sri Lanka was going through last year and said “India stepped up beyond the call of duty to lend us a hand”.
  
He also stressed that the two neighbours, Sri Lanka and India, “will have to work together to ensure the safety of each other”.  He also recollected that the US and Australian governments also came forward in the area of maritime security to assist the Sri Lanka Air Force and the Sri Lanka Navy.

Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Gopal Baglay said that India has remained committed towards capacity building and sustained development of Sri Lanka’s Defence forces, as a reflection of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Security and Growth for All in the Region’ (SAGAR). 

He also said that this engagement would be further cemented by sourcing additional Dornier aircraft by Sri Lanka with Indian assistance in the future.

Baglay emphasised that the Indian Navy Dornier deployed last year made a significant contribution towards maritime reconnaissance and SAR missions in Sri Lanka. “The aircraft’s operational availability was impressive and was able to streamline the SOPs between the two services.”

“Securing our seas through the induction of this aircraft will help in creating a peaceful environment for progress and prosperity of the people of our two nations and is symbolic of the high priority accorded to Sri Lanka as part of India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy,” the Indian High Commission said in a statement.

ALSO READ-‘Japan values India’s positive role in Lankan economic recovery’

Previous Story

Lanka’s education budget falls short amid economic crisis

Next Story

Russia lauds India, global south

Latest from -Top News

Piyush Goyal Heads to Doha for Trade Talks

During the visit, both sides are expected to discuss the proposed India–Qatar Free Trade Agreement (FTA)….reports Asian Lite News Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal will travel to Doha, Qatar, on

Hamas Heads to Egypt for Gaza Talks

The negotiation will focus on the details of enacting the first phase of the plan…reports Asian Lite News A delegation from the Palestinian group Hamas arrived in Egypt on Sunday ahead of

Multi-alignment, upgraded

With US ties strained and China tense, New Delhi taps Europe’s harder edge for co-development, clean tech and strategic autonomy, writes Manoj Menon India is recalibrating its great-power hedging as frictions with

GAZA: Egypt to Host Peace Talks

Egypt hopes the discussions will help “end the war and the suffering of the brotherly Palestinian people, which has continued for two consecutive years…reports Asian Lite News Egypt will host Israeli and

Tommy Robinson to Visit Israel

The invitation comes from Amichai Chikli, Israel’s minister for the diaspora and combating antisemitism, who described Robinson as a “courageous leader on the front line against radical Islam…reports Asian Lite News An
Go toTop

Don't Miss

Xi, Putin to attend virtual SCO Summit hosted by PM Modi

The meeting is expected to discuss key issues like terrorism,

India, UAE set to ink CEPA trade deal

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh