The US has declared Sri Lanka Navy as partner of their Indo-Pacific strategy. The declaration was made onboard SLNS Gajabahu, formerly of the US Coast Guard, at the Colombo harbour early this week.
A statement issued by the US Embassy, in Colombo, quoted US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, Paul Kapur, as having said on 22 June: “Today we announced the delivery of US satellite communications technology to the Sri Lanka Navy, our Indo-Pacific partner. This secure, real-time connection —representing a transformational upgrade for the Sri Lanka Navy— will be available aboard their entire fleet of offshore patrol vessels and ensures no communication gap at sea. It will allow our Sri Lanka partners to respond quickly to emergencies, protect the cargo ships that fuel our economy, and disrupt illegal activity across the Indian Ocean before it reaches our shores.”
Since 2005, SLN has taken delivery of four ex-US Coast Guard vessels, with the latest transfer taking place recently.
Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd), Deputy Minister of Defence and Vice Admiral Kanchana Banagoda, Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy, hosted Assistant Secretary Kapur aboard the vessel, where they discussed maritime cooperation and the role of advanced US communications technology in safeguarding international shipping lanes, supporting regional disaster response, and countering illicit activity across the Indian Ocean. With Fleet Broadband, the Sri Lanka Naval fleet will be better equipped to work seamlessly with partner nations to promote peace and security at sea, whether in joint exercises or real-world missions.
The Embassy announced that delivery of comprehensive Fleet Broadband system — manufactured by Cobham and Inmarsat — valued at approximately $4 million (over LKR 1.2 billion) for installation across the Sri Lanka Navy’s fleet of offshore patrol vessels. Powered by advanced US satellite communications technology, Fleet Broadband enables secure ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore communications, ensuring reliable voice, data, and information sharing while operating far beyond coastal range. The system will enable the Sri Lanka Navy to maintain real-time connectivity with headquarters, aircraft, and other vessels across vast maritime areas, including remote regions of the Indian Ocean. This capability will strengthen maritime domain awareness, improve operational coordination, support emergency response, help interdict vessels engaged in illicit trafficking, track sanctioned vessels, and protect critical supply lines that underpin regional and global commerce.
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