Sri Lanka Invests Big in Navy, Calls for Global Maritime Cooperation

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Government of Sri Lanka has allocated Rs. 92.5 billion to the Sri Lanka Navy in the 2025 Defence Budget, marking a 12% increase from the previous year. 

The move reflects the government’s strategic focus on strengthening maritime security amid evolving regional challenges.

Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, addressing the nation’s maritime priorities, emphasized that the budget increase underscores Sri Lanka’s unwavering commitment to national security and safeguarding its maritime domain. 

She noted that the Navy and Coast Guard play a vital role in countering both traditional and non-traditional threats, including narcotics trafficking, which poses risks to public health and regional stability.

Sri Lanka’s strategic location in the Indian Ocean places it at the center of global maritime routes. The Prime Minister reiterated the country’s commitment to working with international partners to ensure the ocean remains peaceful, secure, sustainable, and governed through fairness and cooperation.

She called for greater collaboration among nations, stressing that effective maritime security and counter-narcotics operations require information sharing, coordination among navies and coast guards, and confidence-building measures. 

A rules-based order at sea, she said, must remain the cornerstone of regional stability.

Highlighting the potential of the blue economy, the Prime Minister pointed to opportunities in shipping, fisheries, biotechnology, and tourism, urging that growth be sustainable and inclusive, supported by green shipping, fair infrastructure, and digital innovation.

Emerging technologies such as satellite monitoring, predictive analytics, and maritime domain awareness systems are reshaping how nations manage ocean resources and security. Prime Minister Amarasuriya urged all actors to contribute to a shared maritime security architecture rooted in inclusivity, transparency, and respect for international law.