In a significant step towards enhancing maritime safety and coordination, Sri Lanka has launched a Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) established with a USD 6 million grant from India. This state-of-the-art facility is equipped to monitor vast ocean territories encompassing not only Sri Lanka but also the Maldives, India, Indonesia, and Australia.
The MRCC, inaugurated on Thursday, is designed to provide comprehensive maritime information across a large section of the Indian Ocean, according to a statement from the Sri Lankan President’s Office. The main centre is situated at the Sri Lanka Navy headquarters in Colombo, with an additional sub-centre in Hambantota on the southeastern coast. The MRCC infrastructure also includes seven unmanned installations at strategic coastal locations: Galle, Arugambay, Batticaloa, Trincomalee, Kallarawa, Point Pedro, and Mollikulam.
Sri Lanka’s maritime rescue region spans an area of 1.77 million square kilometers (683,400 square miles), covering regions extending from India to Indonesia, Australia, and the Maldives. This extensive reach underscores the MRCC’s critical role in ensuring the safety and security of one of the world’s busiest maritime corridors.
The facility was inaugurated by India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar during his first overseas bilateral visit since his reappointment.
The MRCC’s establishment is a landmark achievement, significantly bolstering the region’s maritime safety infrastructure. It enables enhanced coordination and swift response to maritime emergencies, safeguarding lives and supporting international maritime operations.
Sri Lanka signed maritime security pacts with India in March 2022. India gifted a Dornier Maritime Reconnaissance aircraft on 15 August 2022 to strengthen the maritime security of Sri Lanka.
