The Japanese government has agreed to provide Sri Lanka with a grant of up to 1.83 billion yen (approx. US$18M) for the Sri Lanka Coast Guard to receive two new patrol boats.
The agreement, signed June 30 between the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is aimed at assisting the Project for the Maritime Safety Capability Improvement.
The 30-meter vessels, powered by 1,440 kw diesel engines, will displace 100 tonnes and be capable of reaching speeds of 27 knots.
Sri Lanka will deploy the two boats to the south and west coast areas of Sri Lanka to strengthen the law enforcement capacity for marine rescues and for preventing and controlling marine crimes, and for strengthening the marine safety capacity and marine environmental conservation capacity to handle oil spills from ships and other such incidents.
This project will expand the area of active coastal patrol to the south and west regions, an increase in 2.5 times (approximately 750 nautical miles) the current range, and provide additional oil-water recovery capacity (approximately 15 cubic meters per hour per boat).
These measures are expected to contribute to an improved capacity to provide prompt and appropriate marine rescues, prevent smuggling and other marine crimes, and respond to oil spills from ships and other such incidents, JICA said.
In addition to this project, JICA is providing technical guidance through expert dispatch for marine environmental protection, including oil removal, to continue supporting the improvement in marine safety capacity in Sri Lanka.