World · Sri Lanka Bureau
India, Sri Lanka must boost maritime ties to combat weapons smuggling
Regional security experts are calling for enhanced cooperation between New Delhi and Colombo to prevent fishing vessels from being exploited for illegal weapons and narcotics trafficking. The warning comes as authorities acknowledge vulnerabilities in maritime surveillance systems across the Indian Ocean.
LSN Sri Lanka ·
Fishing boats operating in South Asian waters face significant risk of being commandeered for smuggling operations, according to Admiral (Prof.) Jayanath Colombage (Retd.), a leading maritime security analyst. The potential threat extends beyond conventional contraband to include weapons trafficking that could pose serious security risks to both nations.
Admiral Colombage highlighted the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks as a stark example of how maritime vessels can be exploited by criminal and militant networks. During that incident, gunmen hijacked an Indian fishing trawler to gain access to India's coast, underlining the vulnerability of regional shipping lanes to misuse.
The retired naval officer emphasized that strengthening maritime surveillance infrastructure represents a critical step in addressing these security gaps. Current detection capabilities remain insufficient to monitor the vast number of fishing vessels operating across regional waters, creating opportunities for illegal activities to go undetected.
Experts stress that effective prevention requires coordinated action between Sri Lankan and Indian maritime authorities, including enhanced information sharing, joint patrolling initiatives, and upgraded surveillance technology. Such cooperation would help establish a more secure maritime environment while protecting the legitimate interests of regional fishing communities.