President Ranil Wickremesinghe has stressed the critical need for a comprehensive review of the country’s national security strategy. This review will encompass a broad range of factors, including emerging economic trends and the impacts of Climate Change.
A specialised team has been appointed to facilitate this review. The team’s mandate is to thoroughly assess the nation’s security landscape and propose modern security policies for the National Security Council (NSC).
President Wickremesinghe articulated the forthcoming evaluation of the nation’s national security strategy during his address at the Presidential Colours Awarding Ceremony at the Navy Volunteer Force Advance Naval Training Centre in Boossa on Friday evening. He underscored that this comprehensive review would encompass a broad spectrum of factors.
Highlighting the gravity of the matter, President Wickremesinghe said a dedicated team, led by Major General Channa Gunathilaka (Rtd) will spearhead this endeavour. Once the team submits its findings, the President affirmed his commitment to subsequently formulate contemporary security policies under the purview of the NSC.
“Considering the evolving global landscape, I am inclined to initiate a comprehensive review of our nation’s prospective national security framework. Such evaluations are standard practice in numerous countries, undertaken at intervals of five to ten years. These appraisals encompass an assessment of the nation’s vulnerabilities, available resources, and a strategic roadmap for implementation. These deliberations culminate in informed decisions, juxtaposing military capabilities with economic prowess. It is imperative for us to heed these principles,” the President said.
“This review is poised to adopt a forward-looking perspective, intricately tied to emerging economic trends and the pressing issue of Climate Change. This recalibration of focus is paramount to effectively respond to the multifaceted challenges that lie ahead.”
The President said that reflecting on global counterparts grappling with similar challenges, such as the situation in Somalia, it becomes evident that an amalgam of significant Naval forces was needed. Remarkably, our nation stood resiliently on its own in addressing comparable challenges.
He said: “The challenges we confront today are distinct from the scenarios of 2009 and 1983. The dynamics of today’s landscape witness the encroachment of global power struggles into the Indian Ocean’s realm. On one front, a contest for supremacy unfolds between the United States and China across the expanses of the Pacific Ocean.
Simultaneously, a power struggle emerges between Western nations and Russia in the context of Ukraine. This competition for influence extends even to remote reaches such as Niger in Africa, an adjacent nation to Mali, where our dedicated Army is stationed.
The Indian Ocean hosts the world’s pivotal trade routes, making Sri Lanka an integral player at this stage. As we navigate these waters, it is imperative that we chart a course devoid of entanglement in these international rivalries, maintaining an impartial stance. Our foremost concern must be the safeguarding of our security within this sphere.
Internally, various countries grapple with threats that emanate from within, a predicament exemplified by incidents such as the tragic events of the Easter Sunday attack. Hence, it is incumbent upon us to fortify ourselves against such internal vulnerabilities as well. The reality we inhabit finds us enmeshed in global geopolitics; it is a reality we cannot disregard, compelling us to deliberate upon it, irrespective of our preferences.
Contemporary times have ushered in an array of advanced technological devices such as drones and others including those relevant to naval operations. Notably, the utilisation of submarines in the Indian Ocean has become increasingly pronounced. In light of this, our maritime security strategy should pivot towards the development of a robust program tailored to submarine surveillance and control.
“We must acknowledge the impermanence of our current aerospace assets. The trajectory of aviation and naval technologies suggests an enhanced reliance on innovative solutions in the future, surpassing the capacities of the present. Our trajectory forward necessitates a progressive incorporation of advanced technologies to effectively address the challenges that await us,” the President added.