• SLN keen on induction of underwater domain awareness and unmanned aviation capabilities
• Manpower numbers to be resized, with SLCG to grow gradually; plans to recruit more women sailors
• Wants to improve specialised training, cybersecurity, and inter-forces synergy
• SLN already plays a role as a regional security partner in the IOR 

The Sri Lanka Navy (SLN), which will mark its 75th anniversary this year, is in a transition period as the island nation moves through an economic crisis and attempts to reform and restructure its State institutions, including the armed forces. 

The SLN, being the island’s first line of defence, has been proactive in planning ahead and developing strategies and doctrines to navigate the changing times. 

Although the SLN is now back to ‘peacetime duties,’ the planning and preparations to face current and future challenges are ongoing. Last month, outgoing Navy Commander Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera officially launched the ‘Proposal for Sri Lanka Navy’s Strategy 2030 and Beyond’ (NAVSTRAT – 2030) and the Joint Maritime Air Operations Concept at the Navy Headquarters.

In an exclusive discussion with The Sunday Morning, Adm. Perera and the Directorate of Naval Policy and Planning (DNPP) of the SLN discussed its planned future trajectory.

What is envisaged

According to the SLN, the ‘Navy of 2035’ is envisaged to be an advanced, small state ‘green water and beyond’ naval force capable of meeting evolving maritime challenges in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

“The future force is expected to operate a balanced fleet of modern surface vessels with enhanced surveillance capabilities, all integrated through a modern command and control system. The SLN focuses primarily on Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) and satellite technology to enhance its reach whilst concentrating on counter-narcotic operations, fishery protection, maritime terrorism and piracy, and safety at sea, as well as duties involving environmental protection. 

“The Sri Lanka Navy desires to extend its operational capabilities beyond the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of Sri Lanka in regional seas as Sri Lanka often needs to address some of the above challenges in those sea areas. This will also be supported by acquiring offshore patrol vessels and Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS),” the SLN told The Sunday Morning. 

The planned transition by 2030/’35 will be supported by human resource development, with more specialised local training programmes as well as international training cooperation with other navies.

“In the coming years, it is expected that the SLN will be manned by personnel skilled in operating advanced maritime hardware and systems with a focus on cyberspace. This advancement will enhance the capabilities of the Sri Lanka Navy as a regional stabilising force aimed at safeguarding the ocean resources of Sri Lanka and the Indian Ocean’s blue economy, while establishing rules-based good order at sea,” the SLN stated.

The threat spectrum and need for strategy

When asked about how the SLN plans to face regional maritime security challenges and evolving threats over the next decade, the Sri Lanka Navy stated that safeguarding key lines of communication and trade, which traverse the Indian Ocean and are a lifeline for Sri Lanka, from disruptions was a key concern. 

“The Indian Ocean covers 20% of the global ocean area and serves as a critical route for 66% of the world’s oil, 33% of bulk cargo, and 50% of container shipments moving between East and West, passing close to Sri Lanka’s southern coast. Any disruption to this flow will have significant global repercussions. Positioned as a key maritime hub, Sri Lanka faces a range of complex threats, demanding comprehensive security measures and enhanced maritime capabilities to safeguard these vital trade routes. Traditional security challenges centre on the growing great power competition between existing and emerging global power players in the IOR. Sri Lanka’s proximity to major Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs) makes it particularly vulnerable to the implications of this strategic situation,” the SLN said.

Commenting on non-traditional threats, the Navy said: “Transnational crime networks increasingly exploit maritime routes for drug trafficking, human smuggling, and arms trafficking, threatening Sri Lanka’s maritime security. The country’s ports and territorial waters with heavy merchant vessel traffic face rising threats from maritime terrorism, including potential attacks on vessels, critical infrastructure, and cyber systems. 

“The security of Sri Lanka’s maritime resources emerges as a critical concern, with Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing depleting Sri Lanka’s marine resources and threatening the sustainability of its fishing industry. Competition for harvesting seabed minerals and offshore resources intensifies regional tensions, while energy security concerns directly impact the nation’s economic stability. Environmental challenges, including marine pollution, coastal erosion, rising sea level, and climate change impacts, pose long-term threats to Sri Lanka’s maritime environment and coastal communities.”

The wide proliferation and easy access of advanced technologies including that of unmanned systems, both air and seaborne, and increasing complexity of cybersecurity would necessitate the development of new maritime warfare capabilities and security frameworks, the SLN opined. 

Sri Lanka’s international obligations in line with the International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue (SAR) of 1979, which tasks the island nation with a massive Search and Rescue Region (SRR), presents significant challenges for both the Sri Lanka Navy and the Sri Lanka Coast Guard (SLCG) due to the massive scale of the ocean area for which they are responsible. According to the collaboration with other stakeholders in the region, domestic capacity building will be required to address such challenges.

“To address these multifaceted challenges, Sri Lanka must adopt a comprehensive maritime security strategy that balances diplomatic engagement, military modernisation, and international cooperation. This includes strengthening maritime law enforcement capabilities, enhancing surveillance systems, and developing robust response mechanisms to both traditional and non-traditional threats. Only through such a complete approach can Sri Lanka effectively protect its maritime interests while maintaining its strategic position in the Indian Ocean Region. In facing these challenges, reforming and modernising the future Navy and desired technological capacity building is the answer,” the Navy stated.

‘Right-sizing’ and structural changes

Sri Lanka recently initiated a ‘Defence Review’ and according to the SLN, the plan is to remodel its force structure to 40,000 personnel including 5,000 assigned for duties with the SLCG.

“This allocation reflects a balanced approach to both defence and law enforcement in Sri Lanka’s maritime boundaries. A significant change under the new guidance is the focus on expanding and diversifying the workforce, with a particular emphasis on increasing female representation. By 2030, the SLN aims to have 5,000 women in service, reinforcing the commitment to gender diversity and inclusion,” the SLN told The Sunday Morning.

In addition to personnel changes, structural reforms are also projected. Under the new strategy, the SLN plans to merge some of its naval commands, particularly transitioning the South Eastern Naval Area (SENA) to the Southern Naval Area (SNA). 

The SLN will also establish dedicated land deployments with personnel specifically trained for ground operations, reflecting a shift towards flexible, multi-environment capabilities. These land-based deployments are expected to support maritime operations more effectively, especially in coastal security and disaster response roles.

The fleet of 2035

Commenting on the envisaged SLN fleet composition by 2035, the SLN said that its maritime strategy for 2030 and beyond built upon existing frameworks while looking to the future with a focus on fleet enhancement. 

“The continuation of current strategic principles reflects a focus on consistency, while the planned upgrades indicate a readiness to adapt to future challenges. The goal is to strengthen the SLN’s defensive and surveillance capabilities across a range of maritime environments, ensuring a robust and flexible approach to safeguarding Sri Lanka’s maritime boundaries well into the future.”

According to the newly released ‘Proposal for Sri Lanka Navy’s Strategy 2030 and Beyond,’ the SLN envisages a robust fleet by 2030-2040. It proposes additional Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs), a dedicated hydrographic survey vessel, and an ocean-going tug, and also envisages the acquisition of two dedicated Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) frigates with Anti-Air Warfare (AAW) capabilities by 2040. 

The inclusion of ASW and AAW capabilities and the dedicated hydrographic vessel is indicative of the Navy’s long-standing desire to revive lost underwater domain awareness, combat capabilities, and the need for sovereign control over hydrography in Sri Lanka’s maritime domain. The fleet expansion plans also include the expansion of the SLCG fleet.

Given the experience from the MT New Diamond tanker fire and MV X-Press Pearl pollution disaster, the SLN is also focused on acquiring a multipurpose vessel which can improve Sri Lanka’s at sea pollution control and at sea firefighting and rescue/salvage capabilities.

The SLN also proposes a measure adopted by many navies by induction of Unmanned Aerial Systems (surveillance drones in common parlance) to improve its situational awareness and enable rapid response.  

“Across the IOR, countries are increasingly integrating UAS into their maritime security strategies enabling efficient coverage of maritime zones and swift responses to emerging threats. UAS can serve as force multipliers for SLN ships by extending the force sensor horizon and enabling ‘stand-off’ offensive and defensive capabilities within equipment constraints. Tactical UAS can offer opportunities for deploying limited aviation capabilities from a range of minor war vessels including patrol boats for tasks such as surveillance, reconnaissance, intelligence collection, and communications,” the SLN said. 

The induction of UAS for the SLN is seen as not only a force multiplier, but also a cost-effective means to organically sustain better maritime domain awareness.

Regional contribution

Over the last decade, the Sri Lanka Navy has moved to establish itself as a contributor to regional maritime security in the IOR, despite its relatively modest size compared to some other neighbouring navies.

Commenting on the process and what the future holds, the SLN said: “Through proactive measures such as anti-piracy patrols, counter-trafficking operations, and disaster response efforts, the SLN has demonstrated its commitment to guarding safe passage and mitigating threats in the region. This active engagement has promoted stronger ties with regional and extra-regional naval forces, solidifying Sri Lanka’s role as an important security partner within the IOR. 

“The SLN’s role as a regional security partner is also supported through multilateral partnerships and joint exercises. Participation in regional deployment as per ‘Sri Lanka Navy Strategy 2030 and Beyond’ and regional frameworks like the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS), Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP), Combined Maritime Force (CMF), and collaborations with key regional and extra-regional naval partners facilitate an exchange of knowledge and improve the interoperability of the SLN with other maritime forces. 

“The SLN will lead Task Force 154 (Training) of Combined Maritime Forces based in Bahrain in early January. The SLN also, through initiatives like the Galle Dialogue, a biennial international maritime conference, exemplifies its obligation to nurture dialogue and cooperation on regional security matters, positioning Sri Lanka as an advocate for a stable and secure maritime environment.”

Recently, France moved to establish the Regional Centre for Maritime Studies (RCMS) at the Kotelawala Defence University to aid Sri Lanka become a regional centre for capacity building and training on maritime safety, security, and pollution control.

The need for awareness and leadership 

For the ambitious plan of the Sri Lanka Navy, which has been the forerunner in strategic planning of the three branches of the armed forces post the end of the conflict in 2009, to succeed by mid next decade, it will need to be supported by a significant improved maritime security focus and cognisance at the Ministry of Defence and at the level of the national political leadership. 

Without improved awareness among lawmakers and senior public officials, especially in the Treasury and in line ministries, the SLN will find it challenging to get the required support for its envisaged plans.

Historically, the Sri Lankan State apparatus and the legacy political leadership have lacked adequate awareness and expertise to fully comprehend the security dynamics at play in the Indian Ocean and have failed to effectively employ tools such as the armed forces to serve the best interest of Sri Lanka.