India hands over Dornier maritime surveillance aircraft to Sri Lanka Navy

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INTERNATIONAL DESK: India on Monday pushed military diplomacy with Sri Lanka on the eve of the docking of the Chinese spy vessel at Hambantota by handing over a Dornier aircraft in the presence of President Ranil Wickremesinghe, reaffirming New Delhi’s role as the net security provider in the region.

“The security of India and Sri Lanka is enhanced by mutual understanding, mutual trust and cooperation. The gifting of Dornier 228 is India’s latest contribution to this cause,” High Commissioner Gopal Baglay said at the handing over event held on Indian Independence Day.

The timing of the handing over ceremony cannot be missed as it comes on the eve of Yuan Wang 5 docking at Hambantota Port from August 16-22 reaffirming New Delhi’s role in the Indian Ocean Region. Despite India’s concerns, Colombo has cleared the visit of the Chinese vessel, after requesting to defer the arrival of the ship by five days.

The gifting of the Dornier aircraft to the Sri Lanka Air Force “is of relevance to and a step to meet its requirements for maritime safety and security,” the Indian High Commission said in a tweet, adding: “It is an example of India’s strength adding to the strength of its friends and neighbours, including those in the Indian Ocean Region and the Bay of Bengal, such as Sri Lanka”.

The Indian gift for Dornier was in response to a request from the Sri Lankan government in 2018 for two Dornier Reconnaissance Aircraft to enhance the maritime surveillance capabilities of the island nation.

Vice Chief of Indian Navy Vice Admiral S N Ghormade, who is on a two-day visit to the country, accompanied by Indian High Commissioner in Colombo Gopal Baglay, handed over the maritime surveillance aircraft to the Sri Lanka Navy at the Sri Lanka Air Force base in Katunayake, adjoining the Colombo international airport. The Indian Navy has already provided extensive training to a team from Sri Lanka’s Navy and the Air Force to operate the maritime surveillance aircraft.

Meanwhile, in his Independence Day message, Baglay said that India has been an active partner in catalysing the economic recovery of Sri Lanka. Indian investments in Sri Lanka in mutually beneficial sectors such as ports, renewable energy, infrastructure etc will be instrumental in this through employment generation and stepped up economic activities, he said.

Earlier this year, during the visit of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to attend the 8th Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) meeting in Colombo, India and Sri Lanka signed several agreements including a defence-related pact to expand maritime security. A joint Maritime Rescue Coordination Center will be set up to strengthen Sri Lanka’s capacities in its search and rescue region with a $6 million grant funded by the Indian government.

India apprehends that the military and strategic implications of the Chinese ship in the Indian Ocean may have major consequences for its security architecture. The ship has a distinct role in missile and satellite tracking. 

(The Economic Times)