The Indian Ocean Region is a critical area for global maritime safety and security due to its strategic shipping lanes, economic importance, and diverse challenges posed by illegal transnational activities (piracy, illegal fishing, human trafficking, drug trafficking, etc.) and increasing environmental risks.
Sri Lanka has been identified by the French Government as the most suitable location for the establishment of a Regional Centre for Maritime Studies (RCMS) in order to enable the dissemination of knowledge and actions gained through the common study throughout the region reckoning with the various initiatives taken by Sri Lanka as a member of the Association of Indian Ocean countries in respect of maritime protection. It has been suggested to establish the proposed centre at the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) and to obtain the necessary assistance and the infrastructure facility from the Naval and Maritime Academy, Trincomalee.
Accordingly, Government of Sri Lanka and the Government of France entered into a bilateral agreement between the in respect of the establishment of the ‘Regional Centre for Maritime Studies’ in Sri Lanka and both parties signed the bilateral agreement on the 4th of September 2024.
The RCMS is subjected to the management and control of the Board of Management of KDU, and affairs of the centre are administrated by a Board of Directors, comprising the following:
- Director of the Centre (Senior Officer of Sri Lanka Navy).
- Director of Studies (French).
- Director of Studies (Sri Lankan from KDU).
- Representative of the Sri Lankan Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- Representative of the French Embassy in Sri Lanka.
Further, there is an advisory board which advice to the Board of Directors with regard to the administration of affairs of the regional centre for Maritime Studies. Advisory Board consisted with four representatives each from Sri Lanka & France.
From Sri Lankan Side
- Representative of the Ministry of Defence
- Representative of the Ministry of foreign affairs
- Director General Training, Sri Lanka Navy
- The Vice Chancellor, KDU
From French Side
- Chargé d’Affaires - French Embassy in Sri Lanka
- The First Councellor
- The Head of the cooperation and cultural action section of the French embassy
- The Technical Military Cooperation Officer in charge of Maritime Security
The general objective of RCMS is to develop the capacities of Sri Lankan administrations and eventually from other countries of the Indian Ocean Region, by training civil and military personnel involved in maritime safety, security, and marine environmental protection and preservation. The RCMS thus aims to harmonise practices in the region through joint training, by encouraging exchanges between regional players in maritime safety today and in the future. It focuses on key areas such as maritime safety and security, and marine environmental protection, addressing both current challenges and future needs in the maritime domain.