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Sri Lanka Coast Guard: A Crucial Pillar in Protecting Maritime Security Interests - Opinion

(By: Rohan Edirisinghe )

"I am determined to make our country the center of the Asian silk route once again taking advantage of its unique geographical location. I intend to develop it into a Navigation, Aviation, Trading & Commercial center linking East and West"

Mahinda Chinthana-page 66

Introduction

The importance of maritime security for an Island nation like Sri Lanka has been discussed at length by various scholars and professionals in the maritime security field. The emerging global realities in the geopolitical field attract the attention towards the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). The strategic geographical location of Sri Lanka is seen as a major advantage in the emerging realities in the IOR. As 90 percent of the global trade is carried through sea lanes, the importance of Sri Lanka's position further add strength.

One would tend to look at this article as a Mahinda Chinthana promotion attempt merely because I have quoted few ideas presented by the President during his presidential campaign in 2005. To all those who are reading this article through a preconceived mindset of above, it will be true to say that there has been no such well-organized policy statement as that of the Mahinda Chinthana presented by a presidential candidate to date.

The President's thinking in terms of making Sri Lanka the center of the Asian Silk Route is not just a statement that included in the preamble of the chapter heading "Harnessing the Blue Skies and Seas", but a very strong determination of making Sri Lanka the most important country in the IOR in connecting the East and West. In this very context, having a safe maritime environment around Sri Lanka as well in the IOR remains as a major requirement. With the defeat of LTTE in year 2009, our seas and the Indian Ocean in particular became much safer. Due to the rapid changing nature of the maritime domain, when one threat is neutralized there is always a high possibility that another threat(s) emerging in different shapes and forms.

The requirement of effective policing of our seas as well as inland waterways in the present context can be seen as an area where we all need to pay close attention. The much needed constabulary nature involvement is required at the present context where the dealings are needed to be carried out in accordance with laid down laws and regulations of the country as well as internationally accepted guidelines especially when it comes to maritime safety aspects.

As the military have done its role in eradicating ruthless LTTE terror outfit from Sri Lankan soil, there is a huge demand for non-military organizations taking lead role in both regulating and close monitoring of developments in the maritime domain with assistance from the Sri Lanka Navy and other key stakeholders who are involved in protecting the maritime security. In this context, Sri Lanka Coast Guard can be of great assistance in the protection of our maritime security concerns.

Inception of the Sri Lanka Coast Guard: President's Brainchild

Here again I would like to site excerpts from Mahinda Chinthana (page 53), where it says 'The Coast Guard which was initiated by me will be strengthened further in order to protect our ocean resources'. Its no wonder that the concept of having a Coast Guard included in the Mahinda Chinthana in year 2005. Those who know the history of the inception of the Coast Guard will agree with me that the requirement of having a Coast Guard element was well identified by the President in year 1998 when he was the Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. The Coast Guard activities took off with few men and craft but could not reach adulthood due to various issues that emerged in following years and in year 2002, the government then in power disbands the same and all assets were handed over to the Coast Conservation Department.

The rebirth of Sri Lanka Coast Guard took place in year 2009 with the re-introduction of same by the President and the enactment of the Coast Guard Act No.41 of 2009. In year 2010, Coast Guard launched its activities at a ceremony held in Galle Harbour with the participation of the President and Secretary Ministry of Defence& Urban Development.

It's important to note here that the President had a clear vision of the importance of having a non-military element to look after the issues related with the fisheries matters along with rendering assistance to the much important maritime security. The time gap between year 1998 to 2009 seems to be so crucial and the presence of the Coast Guard during that time period would have contributed immensely in protecting our maritime security concerns.

The establishment of a Coast Guard and its primary role has been well defined by the President in his above statement, by identifying the importance of protecting our maritime resources. With mammoth untouched marine resources out in our ocean areas, careful exploration as well as effective management of same in order to achieve sustainable development goals are clearly embedded in this statement. As protection of marine resources encompasses a huge array of components, the key to protecting same can be achieved by the Coast Guard in the present context by paying close attention to the key elements in the concept of the President's view.

When broadly viewed, the Coast Guard is entrusted with a huge mandate to assist in the effective governance of maritime resources in the country which is directly linked to the maritime security and in turn to the national security.

Emerging Maritime Threats and the Coast Guard

Not having a visible enemy out at sea does not in any way mean our seas are safe. Even though we have no enemy out at sea to challenge the territorial integrity and sovereignty, we should never confine ourselves to a mindset that maritime terrorism as the only major threat when we discuss maritime security. In the present context, we need to look beyond terrorism, armed robbery or even piracy. In this background, certain issues that are either less visible or less important in the maritime domain has a higher probability of evolving into a greater maritime threat/disaster. An oil spill from a ship that's closer to our shores can create a huge security impact if not contained professionally and timely.

On the same note, a ship that has already entered into our ports/maritime zones can be practicing various illegal activities endangering our marine environment. Even though we paid less attention to events of above nature during the time of conflict, they are fast taking different shapes and emerging as challenges/threats. Impact of such events can have devastating impacts both long and short term.

Such threats or challenges takes various forms and needed to be handled effectively if we are to avoid further propagation which can lead to a dangerous situation. In a rapidly changing scenario, following areas can be identified as threats/challenges that we face today in our maritime domain:

a. Human smuggling.

b. Poaching in Sri Lankan waters.

c. Marine pollution.

d. Drug trafficking.

e. Protection of marine species and environment.

f. Safety considerations of marine transportation.

g. Search and Rescue missions.

h. Law enforcement out at sea.

j. Oil/chemical spills.

Geopolitical realities, economic globalization, shifting demographics, technological changes, finite resources and fragile environments are dramatically affecting maritime interests. Oceans and waterways, in addition to carrying trade vital for the economy, will continue to act as conduits for transnational issues such as pollution, over fishing, illegal immigration, drug smuggling, terrorism, and proliferation. Moreover, growing foreign economic links will further increase the volume and value of waterborne trade as well as challenges to maritime security. The maritime domain today is shaped by changes that are powering its yield and usefulness but also increasing its complication and susceptibility. The challenges and threats that we see in the maritime domain due to the changing nature have increased the complexity and vulnerability on the other hand.

SLCG to the Front in Maritime Law Enforcement

All these challenges highlight the importance of one major aspect. We need to have a better governance of our maritime interests along with effective supervision and regulation of existing laws and regulations. With the end of war, many restrictions were relaxed especially in the maritime front to benefit the fishing community at large. Many high security zones out at sea were reduced and restrictions on horse power limits of outboard motor (OBM) engines were relaxed.

The rapid growth in the tourism industry has increased various small and medium boat operators providing services for both local and foreign tourists. While many such service providers mushroom in the field, we can see many tend to keep a blind eye for security aspects of such operations. Boat capsize incidents that took place recently killing local tourists in Beruwala and Tissawewa in Tissamaharama are good examples to highlight this very fact. While there are large number of boat operators there in our country, regulations concerning these operators have been complied and awaiting to be promulgated. The recent incident involving four missing divers off Colombo is another clear incident to highlight the need for an effective supervision and regulation of existing systems.

There are many more such areas I could easily point out here, but what all such clearly highlight is the need for a better regulations and monitoring of these activities. One could task this to the Navy, but I strongly believe that the Navy has a much bigger role to play in protecting our maritime interest in the deep seas where we could do more to improve effective surveillance capabilities in the EEZ. Apart from this very fact, even if we look at the regional countries we see the role played by respective Coast Guards in maritime law enforcement duties.

As even sending a naval war ship to check a fishing boat of a neighboring country can be interpreted as an action of aggression and deployment of Coast Guard vessels can be seen as a better option to avoid such conflicts. If we look at the situation in the Northern waters of our country we see quite a number of incidents that are reported mainly in the Indian media blaming the Sri Lanka Navy for assaulting the Indian fishermen (even though such do not take place and clear statements have been issued by the Indian CG in this regard). But no reports of such allegations have been leveled at the Coast Guard to date despite the very fact that they too conduct patrol in areas where Indian trawlers are present.

As law enforcement is primarily handled by the Coast Guards around the world, active participation by the SLCG in such duties will have a greater international recognition too. Apart from the tasks that can be undertaken at the maritime front, inland waters need to be monitored for illegal activities and none adherence to laid down standards by the service providers as well as end users. The silence service the SLCG has been performing in saving lives of 30 odd people by their professional life guards is another major area the CG can contribute. The rapid expansion of tourism industry in the country will require professional life savers and in this context, the SLCG will emerge as the leading service provider in life saving.

Concluding Remarks

Its important to mention here the vision the President had as the fisheries & aquatic resources minister in year 1998 of establishing a Coast Guard for Sri Lanka. Looking at the Mahinda Chinthana, the President's maritime strategy is clearly indicate that his vision is a much broader one where it looks not only at making Sri Lanka the center of the Asian silk route, but making Sri Lanka the most important place in the global maritime trade as well as the much important IOR.

In this context, the SLCG will have a greater responsibility and a crucial role to play in conducting an effective constabulary role in protecting our oceans and its resources to make sure that country achieves its grand strategic objectives in its way towards achieving sustainable development. As country which learned many lessons by fighting a war for nearly 30 years, a statement made by Secretary Ministry of Defence& Urban Development during his speech at the 5th Annual National Conference on Cyber Securityon 5th December 2012 at Colombo, he highlighted an important fact that we all need to think seriously immaterial of our field of interest. He went on to say that "What is important is to be proactive and guard against all likely threats".

This not only summarize what any force, organization should be, but importantly what the country should be. We had a long history of reacting to incidents of various magnitudes in the past, but what we require now is to be proactive. The establishment of SLCG can be seen as a proactive initiative by the President and I'm sure it will deliver its best in protecting the maritime interests of Sri Lanka through a proactive approach.

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