The Japanese government is considering providing the Sri Lankan Navy with patrol boats later this year to strengthen Sri Lanka’s maritime surveillance capacity, according to reports.
Kyodo News International reported that a Japanese government source said the move was being considered ahead of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s scheduled visit to Colombo in early September.
The proposal is expected to be discussed in September, with the Japanese government also considering extending a loan to Sri Lanka, enabling the Sri Lankan government to purchase the vessels. No decision has been made yet on the number of patrol boats to be provided, or on whether they will be new boats or Japanese patrol boats which are already in service.
Earlier this year, the Australian government gave the “gift” of two patrol boats to the Sri Lankan Navy. The controversial move was roundly criticised, with Greens leader Christine Milne slamming the gift as “collaboration and it is abhorrent”.
See more in our earlier posts:
Australian patrol boat ‘gift’ arrives in Sri Lanka (28 June 2014)
Australia gifts second patrol boat to Sri Lankan Navy (04 June 2014)
'Human rights violators can't be trusted not to do it again and again' - Geoffrey Robertson QC (20 Nov 2013)
Australia’s warship gift to Sri Lanka under fire (17 Nov 2013)
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