15 August 2022, Monday, apart from being India’s 75th Independence day, has marked another landmark event. In the proposal to intensify the maritime security of the island nation, India gifted a 228 Dornier Maritime Reconnaissance Aircraft to Sri Lanka, The event was held in the Sri Lanka Air Force Base, Katunayake, a day before a high-tech Chinese missile and satellite tracking ship ‘Yuan Wang 5’ docks at the island nation’s strategic Southern port of Hambantota on Tuesday for a week for replenishment purposes. The ship was to arrive on August 11 but the absence of permission from Sri Lankan authorities delayed the arrival.
Sri Lanka had to defer the visit with China’s authorities amidst the visit of India’s envoy. However, access has been granted for the same by Colombo from August 16 to August 22, 2022.
A four-month extensive training associated with the operation of the aircraft was given to Fifteen Navy and Air force personnel of Sri Lanka. The 15-member team had some pilots, observers, engineering officers and technicians. The team members of the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) would be under constant connection with the technical team of India for supervision.
The Defence Dialogue that took place between India and Sri Lanka in January 2018, marked the possibility that Sri Lanka would obtain the aircraft to bolster the Island nation’s Maritime Surveillance.
India’s Envoy in Sri Lanka
The occasion was graced with the presence of Ranil Wickremesinghe (President of the Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka), Gopal Baglay (High Commissioner), Chief of Staff to the President Sagala Rantnayaka, Kamal Gunaratne (Defence Secretary General), Vice Admiral S.N Ghormade (Vice Chief of Naval Staff of Indian Navy), Shavendra Silva (Chief of Defence Staff General) and Army, Navy and Air Force Chiefs of Sri Lanka.
The aircraft was ceded over by Vice Chief of the Indian Navy Vice Admiral S.N Ghormade to the Sri Lankan Navy. He was accompanied by Gopal Baglay during the ceremony.
“Security of India and Sri Lanka is enhanced by mutual understanding, mutual trust, and cooperation. Gifting of Dornier 228 is India’s latest contribution to this cause,” Baglay said at the handing over event. He bought into the notice that the induction of aircraft would establish a peaceful environment between the citizenry of the two countries..
Strengthening Maritime Security has been in the proposal to intensify the maritime security of the island nation.
Strengthening relations through HAL-manufactured Aircraft
The aircraft which is handed over to Sri Lankan forces is from India’s inventory. It is done to help the country tackle its immediate concerns.
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), a state-run aerospace major, has been given the task of manufacturing Dornier aircraft. Once done, Two HAL-manufactured aircraft would be sent to Sri Lanka. The one given on Monday, August 15, would return back to the Indian Navy, the sources stated.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the aircraft would work as a safeguard that would enable the country to uproot the ordeals of human trafficking, drug trafficking, smuggling, and other perilous crimes that are carried out through coastal water.
In a press release, MEA said that in view of the current challenges to Sri Lanka’s maritime security, the Induction of the aircraft is timely.
President Wickremesinghe acknowledged the gift and thanked India. He affirmed that this is the start of cooperation between the Sri Lanka Air Force, and Navy with the Indian Navy in Maritime surveillance.
The aircraft is capable of embarking on Search and Rescue operations which would epitomize its direct benefits to the citizens. It would help keep an intricate eye on the occurrences around the Indian Ocean region at large.
This alliance would affirm the stability in the Defence and Security spheres of the two neighbouring countries. It’s envisaged to add a future capability to Sri Lanka and aligns with the notion of Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR).
