Remarks by Ambassador Julie Chung at the Inauguration Ceremony of the “Ship in a Box” Kirinda Coast Guard Station

Thursday, August 15, 2024

Kirinda Coast Guard Station

Officials of the Sri Lanka Coast Guard, EXBS, Aitken-Spence, Amentum Corporation, dear colleagues and friends

It is a great pleasure to be here with you for the inauguration of the Sri Lanka Coast Guard “Ship in a Box” simulator and to have with us today the team who helped to realise this great project, several of whom have come from the United States. The funding for the Ship-in-a-Box comes from our Export Control and Border Security (EXBS) Programme to support our partnership with Sri Lanka to promote and protect freedom of movement in the Indo-Pacific region. I would also like to thank the representatives of Aitken-Spence, Chief Executive Officer Mr Janaka Gunawardhana and Chief Operating Officer Mr Sharmilal Anthony. And a special welcome to Amentum Corporation Deputy Programme Manager Mr Daniel Kumor and Project Manager Mr Casey Hart. You have all done a great service to the Sri Lanka Coast Guard.

And of course I would like to especially thank the Sri Lanka Coast Guard, led by the Director General, Rear Admiral Pujitha Vithana, and his team for their partnership.

We are all here today because we have a common goal: to make the global community safer by combating transnational organised crime and enhancing maritime security in the Indian Ocean.

Sri Lanka’s waters are home to vital trade routes that maintain global supply networks and move goods around the world. Uniquely situated in the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka plays a key role in leading efforts to enhance maritime security and prevent the illicit activities and movements of illicit enterprises. The U.S. government, along with our partners and friends, recognize the importance of ports and shipping industries to economic development in Sri Lanka and other countries in the Indo-Pacific region. You all play an integral role in strengthening the global supply chain that is vital to Sri Lanka, the United States, and virtually every other country in the world.

I am so pleased to be here with all of you today to hear how the Sri Lanka Coast Guard plans to use this innovative simulator to enhance the training of your personnel and allied agencies, including the Sri Lanka Navy, to practice maritime tactics in a safe and controlled manner, and better prepare them for real-world scenarios. Training facilities like this will equip the Sri Lankan security forces with the practical experience and capability to protect these vital shipping lanes used by the cargo ships that fuel the global economy.

This country has recently faced one of the greatest economic challenges in its history, and I know how difficult the past few years have been for Sri Lankans. The United States has supported our Sri Lankan partners during these challenging times, particularly through our continued efforts to promote economic prosperity, food security, and inclusive governance. Strengthening Sri Lanka’s criminal justice and maritime security sectors is also a critical component of our partnership. The rule of law, equal access to justice, accountability, and victims’ rights are pillars of all democratic justice systems and are essential to the safety and well-being of all Sri Lankan citizens.

Effective maritime law enforcement and the skills required to conduct thorough and successful criminal investigations are essential to stop the proliferation of criminal activities in the maritime arena. Today, we are seeing an increase in maritime crimes around the world due to many factors, including increased poverty and economic hardship.

Transnational crime, including human trafficking, drug trafficking and piracy, is taking place in the Indo-Pacific region. Our governments and our law enforcement agencies must work together to hold these suspects accountable. Constant monitoring and policing of the vast Indian Ocean is extremely challenging, especially given limited resources and personnel. We recognize the importance of building the capacity of Sri Lanka’s law enforcement agencies to enhance our interdiction efforts, investigative capabilities and prosecutions, and to eliminate criminal activity in its waters.

Let us work together to raise awareness and support our maritime law enforcement agencies for their service in preventing the transportation of narcotics, human trafficking and other smuggling activities to and from our shores. Through public awareness campaigns at all levels of our education systems, we can promote a culture of awareness, prevention and accountability, empowering individuals to report maritime crimes and help reduce the threats to our countries.

We all need to ensure that maritime security laws and policies are up to date and effective in dealing with today’s transnational threats. I know that the Sri Lankan government is working on amendments to the Coast Guard Act that will have long-term benefits for the country. By being more proactive in each of the areas

I have already said that we can serve our citizens more effectively.

In conclusion, the fight against maritime crime in Sri Lanka requires a united front, with our citizens, private industries and institutions all working together. This fight cannot be won overnight, but with determination, cooperation and sustained effort, we can turn the tide. Together, we can build a future where our children and grandchildren are free from the effects of transnational crime and our countries can thrive in peace and prosperity. This training centre that we are opening today will certainly play a significant role in building the capacity of the Sri Lanka Coast Guard to combat crime, protect the marine environment and ensure that Sri Lanka can keep its territorial waters safe for all.

I would like to once again thank everyone here, and also our esteemed colleagues from the Sri Lanka Coast Guard, EXBS, Aitken-Spence, Amentum and USDOJ-ICITAP for your hard work, dedication and continued partnership.