Commander of the Navy addresses officers of Course No. 03 at National Defence College

The Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera conducted a guest lecture for the officers of course No. 03 at National Defence College (NDC) Sri Lanka on 23rd October 2024. The course is followed by senior officers from the tri-forces and police, both from Sri Lanka and abroad.

At the invitation of Major General Sujeewa Senarath Yapa, Commandant of the National Defence College, the Commander of the Navy addressed the audience with his insightful guest lecture.

Under the topic "Sri Lanka Navy - National Security Concerns," the lecture focused on the geopolitical factors impacting Sri Lanka's national security, the associated economic challenges, and the key areas that need prioritization to effectively address these challenges.

In his lecture, the Commander of the Navy highlighted key points regarding the Navy’s role in ensuring maritime security across the island waters and extending into the Indian Ocean and beyond. He explained the Navy's efforts in tackling emerging non-traditional maritime threats and emphasized Sri Lanka's participation in the Combined Maritime Force, a global initiative involving various navies and maritime organizations to ensure lawful ocean use and freedom of navigation. Notably, the Sri Lanka Navy is set to lead the Combined Task Force 154 next year, he further opined. Vice Admiral Perera also outlined the Navy’s future transformation under a scientifically formulated strategy, SLNMS 2030, and emphasized the Navy’s cooperation with regional and extra-regional counterparts to address broad maritime challenges. The Sri Lanka Navy’s overarching goal, he stated, is to nurture a stable ocean environment while advancing the nation’s maritime ambitions.

In his thought-provoking lecture, the Commander of the Navy emphasized how maritime power is utilized to influence various entities worldwide and its status quo. He also discussed the historical roots and modern significance of maritime power and strategy, the current dynamics in the Indian Ocean region, the strategic value of sea power, and Sri Lanka's international commitments as an island nation, and the wide range of national security issues that should be addressed.

Signifying the importance of the occasion, mementos were also exchanged between Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera and Major General Sujeewa Senarath Yapa.