New Commander on the multiple tasks SLN is entrusted with in post-humanitarian operation erA:

Navy looks to expand horizons

By Ranil WIJAYAPALA

As the most decorated officer of the Sri Lanka Navy in its 60 years history, Vice Admiral Somathilaka Dissanayake who hails from the historical city of Dambadeniya reached the highest position of the Navy on January 15, 2011 as the 17th Commander of the Navy.

Having his first press interview with the Sunday Observer the Navy Commander Vice Admiral Dissanayake says the role of the Navy has not reduced although the humanitarian operation is now over . “We have to improve the security arrangement of the island to ensure that nothing goes out of the country undetected and nothing will come to the country undetected”, the Navy Commander says emphasizing the need to expand the Navy further.

Whilst firmly denying any Navy involvement in the Indian fishermen issue the Navy commander stands firmly against those who are harassing Indian fishermen if there are any within the Navy. “If I find somebody harassing or attacking any Indian fisherman I treat them as traitors, because they create unnecessary problems to the country”, the Navy Commander emphasized.

Following are the full excerpts of the interview the Sunday Observer had with the Navy Commander Vice Admiral Somathilaka Dissanayake.

Q: Although you have been in combat situations, now you are in charge of a peacetime Navy which has just witnessed its 60th anniversary. How does the Navy handle this transition and challenge?

A: Actually the transition period is over. Now we have to go back to the classic role of the Navy. Earlier we had to perform both the roles - the role of the Navy as well as ground operations. Gradually we are now going back to our classic role. Although we have successfully completed the humanitarian operation, the role of the Navy has not reduced as we have to continue our surveillance around the country. In the near future, our sea area is going to be increased with the Extended Exclusive Economic Zone.

So, we have to expand the Navy and our surveillance in the shores. We have to improve the security arrangements of the country to ensure that nothing goes out of the country undetected and nothing enter into the country undetected. Therefore, we are very particular about the coastal surveillance.

We are going to have a network of Naval bases around the coast line. Already the Defence Secretary has given a directive and we are in the process of implementing it. At the same time we are gradually handing over the land duties to the Army.

The process is already begun and we are halfway through completing it. I think the Navy is well experienced by now and we have sailed on a victorious path. My predecessors have brought the Navy to this standard. I am going to continue from where they have stopped and take the Sri Lanka Navy another mile forward.

Q: What are the new security implications for the Navy which has turned into a blue-water navy capable of deep sea operations?

A: Some have misinterpreted the blue-water capabilities. We can’t think of a blue water Navy in the near future. Even the Indian Navy is still preparing to get the blue-water capability.

Blue-water Navy is a Navy which has Fleets operating beyond their shores. The US Navy and the British Navy have the blue water capability.

Q: But Sri Lanka Navy also operated beyond our shores to destroy LTTE floating warehouses during the humanitarian operation?

A: Yes, we handled some operations far beyond our shores in 2007 and 2009.

Those were blue-water operations but not performed by a blue-water Navy. That was the wonder there. Actually we achieved what other Navies couldn’t. We went beyond our shores upto 2000 km and took those targets. But I don’t think that the Sri Lanka Navy is going to be developed into a blue-water Navy. Also, the Sri Lanka Navy will not engage in power projection in the region.

But we have to increase the surveillance capability. We have to do the policing, patrolling in this region. We have a responsibility as we are located in a strategic location in the Indian Ocean.

Q: How geared is the Sri Lanka Navy to handle situations such as human smuggling, drug trafficking, poaching in our waters and other illegal activities?

A: Human trafficking was a problem that came up just after we completed the humanitarian operations. That situation developed quite unexpectedly specially after illegal migration towards Australia commenced.

The illegal migration to Italy was already in existence. To stop human trafficking during the latter part of 2009 and in the beginning of the year 2010, we initiated certain measures.

Since then, we do not see any attempts by people for illegal migration from Sri Lanka. Both the Sri Lankan and Australian governments worked through diplomatic channels and the Navies tackled the situation.

Some educational programs were carried out islandwide through electronic and printed media and they were very effective. But we are on the watch and very vigilant. Along with these coastal security arrangements we are also addressing other issues.

Q: During Sri Lanka Navy’s 60th anniversary celebrations Sri Lanka Navy discussed with many other Navies and Navy chiefs from many other countries about maritime security arrangements in the region. How about intelligence gathering and intelligence sharing with other Navies in the region?

A: The 60th anniversary celebrations was a tremendous success. If we consider the participation of the International Navies, Naval Chiefs and other senior officials who participated in the event, it was very successful. It was part of our Naval diplomacy.

We maintained very close interactions with the Indian, Pakistan and Maldivian authorities in the SAARC region. But during the 60th anniversary celebrations we have surely gone beyond our region.

We could bring attention to our Navy from the other regions of the world as well. Other Navies are very much interested in interacting with the Sri Lanka Navy because we are in position of wealth of battle experience.

I think the then Navy Commander, Admiral Smarasinghe had a very close dialogue with them. In time to come we will be able to pursue these relationships and interact to develop into the sphere of information sharing. We already have linkages with the Indian Navy and some other Navies.

Q: There have been a lot of allegations from various parties in India that the Sri Lanka Navy is responsible for killing several Indian fishermen. Your comments?

A: That is a very unfortunate situation and this has been there for a very long period of time. When we joined the Navy 33 years back we had the same problem. That situation changed with the movement of the LTTE cadres between Sri Lanka and India across the Palk Straits.

That time we had a fishing ban, so we could control the fishing activities. There was no involvement of local fishermen in this issue. At that time it was only the Navy, the LTTE and the Indian trawlers.

Therefore, we could control that situation to a certain extent. Even at that time the LTTE tried to create situations to build up tension between the two countries, specially to influence the Tamil Nadu fishermen and politicians in order to convince and approach the central government for their gains. When I was commanding the Northern Naval Area during the final stages of the humanitarian operation very specific instructions were given to desist even to fire any warning shots towards Indian trawlers. We are still on the same stand. We have not relaxed from that position. We look at a very broad picture and by firing at a fisherman we cannot resolve the problem.

This has to be addressed at higher levels and we have categorically informed the officers and sailors going to sea not to do any harassment or firing at Indian trawlers. If the Head of the Government of Sri Lanka, His Excellency the President and the Defence Secretary, the Navy Commander, Area Commanders do not want to take any punitive action against Indian fishermen, there is no reason for junior officers who are commanding ships and craft to fire at Indian trawlers. I am very firm on this issue. If I find somebody harassing or attacking any Indian fisherman, I will treat them as traitors, because they create unnecessary problems to the country. We have understood the value of maintaining good relations between the two countries.

With regard to these allegations we have carried out investigations. Also, I have educated our personnel in this regard. With the technological advancement, fishermen can have cameras, telephones with cameras and photograph such events. I have informed them that they will be taken to task if something wrong is done. So under such circumstances, I don’t think anyone will take a risk.

We deny these allegations because we have done proper investigations, I have gone to the extent of conducting discrete investigations using our intelligence personnel. So we have not completely concluded our investigations. If we find any person responsible, we will take stern action against them. That was the directive given to me by His Excellency the President and by the Defence Secretary.

Q: With regard to fishing activities, Sri Lanka is also having a Coast Guard now. How does the two entities function, any overlapping of roles?

A: Coast Guard is also doing a similar job as the Navy. Now the US Navy is a blue-water Navy. They won’t guard their coast. They project Naval power away from their shores. That is why they needed a Coast Guard.

Since we are also trying to move out of the coastal line, it is good to have a Coast Guard. Our Coast Guard is headed by a retired Rear Admiral and its cadres are mainly ex-Navy personnel and some are serving officers deputed from the Navy. We have given four craft.

One craft is being built at Welisara and that will be the first craft built by the Sri Lanka Navy for another organization. We are ready to hand over that craft to the Coast Guard next month.

Q: With the relaxation of fishing restrictions on local fishermen what steps have been taken by the Navy to monitor their activities?

A: Now our fishermen also use advanced technology. Many sea going fishing boats, multi-day fishing trawlers have communication facilities, some trawlers have even satellite communication equipment.

Most of the boats which go far away are in possession of GPS. They are capable of getting their locations very accurately and even communicating with far away places. If they are in distress, they have means of communication. Even if their boats break down they communicate with us and sometimes Navy is in a position to go and help them. Otherwise they can request the other fishing boats to come to their assistance.

Q: It is reported that it is a costly operation for the Sri Lanka Navy to go to far-away places and rescue local fishermen who are in distress?

A: It costs millions. But the fishermen always try to get the support from the Navy as it is free for them. If they use a fishing boat they will have to pay some money. They make requests through various channels to get it done free from us. If the fishermen cannot make their own arrangements we always go for their support.

Q: Don’t you think it is an extra burden for the Navy?

A: It is an extra burden but still we think it is part of our duty, as we cannot value human lives.

Q: How does Sri Lanka Navy look at the issue of Somali pirates?

A: We are concerned about it but it has not come to Sri Lanka’s waters close to us yet.

Q: But they had abducted some fishermen and killed two of them recently?

A: It has happened in Somali waters. Our fishermen have gone there and got into their hands. The closest incident had happened 550 nautical miles away from Sri Lanka which is west of Lakshadeep Islands and beyond Maldives.

Therefore, we are not much worried at present. I don’t think in the near future this threat will come. Even if they come we are sure with our experience and capability that we can easily tackle them.

Q: With the expansion of the Magampura port in Hambantota, and with the arrival of many ships towards our shore will there be any tendency for them to shift towards Sri Lanka?

A: I don’t think. Knowing the capability of the Sri Lanka Navy they won’t think of shifting to our shores. Already our surveillance system is in place.

We have two to three ships at any given time operating in the shipping lane in the South of Sri Lanka and in the Western Coast. Besides in the Eastern and Northern areas we have a very effective surveillance system.

So far we have not come across any suspicious activities around country.

We continue to gather intelligence and are on the watch.

Q: The Navy very recently began whale watching expeditions on the southern coast. However there has been a lot of criticism that the Navy should not get involved in commercial activities like this including the Jet Liner. Your comments?

A: We have won the war and defeated terrorism. Now the Government has launched a development drive. It is like another war. If we can participate in that program and specially if we can make use of the idling and excess resources towards that end, there is nothing wrong in it. We are going to participate very actively in the development process.

Q: Do you have more plans for such commercial activities in various fields including tourism?

A: we are going to actively participate in many other projects. The Canal Development Projects and also activities involving the Navy in the internal water bodies and lagoons. In coastal areas and in Northern area, we can have tourist destinations in places like Delft Island. We are also planning to get involved in agricultural projects.

Q: What was the Navy’s role and response in the floods which have affected most parts of the country? How ready is the Navy for humanitarian assistance in any such large scale natural disaster?

A: The Navy had been doing this over a period of time to assist the civil authorities and we have actively participated in the flood relief operations.

But we have never come across a situation like this. We had almost five to six districts under floods - Batticaloa, Ampara, Trincomalee, Polonnaruwa, Vavuniya, Mannar and Puttalam. We deployed 47 teams. We have never exceeded the 30 limit earlier. We had to hire boats from fishermen because we did not have that number of suitable small boats. I feel the Navy should be more prepared for that. We had not paid much attention towards this earlier since there were no requirements as such and also we had many other important tasks to do. I feel that we should have a very strong and well planned system with enough resources to face such flood situations.

Q: Are there plans to purchase or build additional craft for the Navy?

A: We are planning to buy two Offshore Patrol Vessels. We might sign agreements this year and it will take three years for them to build those vessels. Meantime, we are preparing a plan for the next five years. In that we hope to include more ships but we are not thinking of sophisticated warships.

The Navy has enough patrol craft now. What we concentrate is to carry out surveillance in our economic zone. For that we will need fairly big ships which can sustain at sea for a considerable period. Therefore, we are planning to acquire them. But we require small boats for coastal patrolling and the Navy is continuing with the ship building project.

Q: There are some critics who say that there is no need for such expansion since we have already defeated LTTE?

A: Navy has to be expanded. It is the Government’s vision. The President, the Defence Secretary and those who really understand this are of the view that this problem would not have risen there if we had a strong Navy.

All these weapons came through sea routes. Aircraft, huge guns, tanks, artilleries, all these weapons came via sea. We have to admit that. Our Navy was not strong enough. It was not that we were weak but we were not strong enough. But the Navy played a very crucial role in defeating the LTTE. After we destroyed those floating warehouses, the war took a different turn.

Therefore, the Navy is important even during the peace time in the future. Being an island nation, the Navy is important for the country. I think in proportionate to the development of our economy the Navy also should expand. There will be a lot of economic activities around the country. Fisheries, oil exploration and shipping activities and harbour development projects.

So for this we should have a secure sea around our country.

Q: You mentioned about the ship building projects within the Navy to build small boats for the Navy. What are your plans to make use of this in house expertise?

A: We are planning to experiment and improve the conditions of the fighting boats as multipurpose boats to make use of them as passenger boats for tourist purposes and to be used in shallow waters, close to harbours when there is a necessity.

If the Navy gets any offers from other countries we have the capacity and expertise to undertake such orders.

Q: Although Sri Lanka has eradicated terrorism , global terrorism is very much alive and even LTTE elements are still active in South India and other countries. What is the Navy’s role in this regard in terms of intelligence and knowledge sharing?

A: We are very concerned about this situation and of the coastal surveillance. Even the fishing boats are being checked when going out and coming back.

We never rule out the possibility of somebody attempting to enter illegally. We are on the lookout always. The Navy will not put our guard down. So, Sri Lanka Navy will be on the alert.

Q: What are your feelings about reaching the highest position of the Sri Lanka Navy after serving the Navy for such a long period?

A:I am proud about my achievement as I was in the Navy at the time this war was won.

We have committed our whole life and specially our youth was completely sacrificed for the war. I am so happy and I am confident that I can lead the Sri Lanka Navy to a better place with the help of the experienced officers and sailors under the leadership of the President and guidance of the Defence Secretary.