Supporting the Sri Lankan Government’s plans to enhance its maritime infrastructure and boost maritime operations, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed a Grant Agreement with the Government of Sri Lanka as part of the ‘Project for Maritime Safety Capability Improvement’ providing two petrol vessels to the Sri Lanka Coast Guard (SLCG) on Thursday 30 June 2016.

Following the signing of Exchange of Notes between the Ambassador of Japan, Kenichi Suganuma and Dr. R.H Samaratunga, Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, a Grant Agreement was signed between Dr. R.H Samaratunga and Kiyoshi Amada, Chief Representative of JICA Sri Lanka Office. Rear Admiral D. D. A. S Wimalathunge, Director General SLCG, represented SLCG at the signing.

The Agreement entails the procurement and crew training of two state-of-the-art 30-m class patrol vessels, the largest of its kind to be used by SLCG, worth approximately 1.8 billion Japanese Yen (2.4 billion Sri Lankan Rupees).

The Project aims to boost SLCG operations contributing towards the improvement of maritime safety, maritime law enforcement and assisting in the preservation of the marine environment.

“As Sri Lanka is an island nation, enhancing maritime safety capability is critical to the country's socio-economic development. JICA has long supported SLCG and these vessels will strengthen its role in search and rescue, maritime environment preservation and ensuring to carry out this critical work,” noted Kiyoshi Amada.

In addition to the Maritime Safety Capability Improvement project, JICA has also engaged in several important maritime cooperation initiatives extending valuable technical assistance to SLCG such as training on oil spill incident management.

This expertise together with granted equipment helped SLCG respond diligently during recent spillages which occurred at the Thaldiyawatte Lagoon Dikowita and Nilvala River in Akurassa.

Collaborating with the Japan Coast Guard (JCG), JICA conducted a series of oil spill incident management training programmes using Sri Lankan ports to train SLCG Oil Spill Response Team (OSRT) members. In addition, since year 2014, a total of 29 SLCG officers have participated in short term training programmes in Japan.

Further, a Master Degree Programme is organized in Japan to develop policy making specialists by providing graduate level training and practical education in the field of maritime safety.

Photo Caption: Kiyoshi Amada Chief Representative JICA and Dr R. H. Samaratunga, Secretary to the Ministry of Finance exchange the signed grant agreement as Ambassador for Japan Kenichi Suganuma and Rear Admiral D.D. A. Wimalathunga, Director Sri Lanka Coast Guard look on.