Ex-security personnel to combat Somali pirates

by Shanika SRIYANANDA

Over 210 ex-security personnel, mainly the well-trained sailors of Sri Lanka Navy of the Rakna Arakshaka Lanka Company Ltd (RALCL) are now deployed to provide security for over 50 merchant ships against Somali pirates. The Chief Executive Officer of RALCL Maj. Gen. K.B. Egodawele told the Sunday Observer that the ex-security personnel, 80 percent from the Sri Lanka Navy, the rest from the Special Forces and Commandos and one percent from the Infantry divisions of the Sri Lanka Army, provide security to ships sailing through the Indian Ocean to the Arab seas.

“All these sea marshals were in the anti-terrorist combat operations during the battle against the LTTE since mid May 2009 and they were recruited to the RALCL after a brief refresher training. There is a good demand for them from foreign ships, especially from Japan, China and the other Western countries”, he said adding that as they could not cope with the demand only two sea marshals have been deployed on each ship, which normally need four of them.

“We would be able to supply the total number of sea marshals for the ships”, he said. Maj. Gen. Egodawele said the RALCL is keen to tap their talents in maritime affairs as they were well-trained ex-servicemen in anti-terrorist combat activities.

“We are confident that they will provide a tight security coverage for merchant ships during their voyage through the Indian Ocean up to their destinations in the Arab seas where Somali pirates are active”, he said.

The RALCL sea marshals would take over the security of the merchant ships from two points - Colombo and Galle Ports.

RALCL Chairman Maj. Gen. Palitha Fernando said the security for merchant ships is provided with the approval of the Ministry of Defence and the Maritime Division of RALCL.