Sri Lanka To Deploy Navy Ship to Red Sea, Joining Coalition Against Houthis

COLOMBO (News 1st); In a surprise announcement, Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe revealed the country's decision to join international efforts against the Houthis in Yemen, citing concerns about rising global shipping costs and potential disruptions to its own trade.

Addressing the recent hike in commodity prices, President Wickremesinghe linked it to ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, alongside the Houthis' missile attacks in the Red Sea. He warned that if shipping companies opted to bypass the Red Sea due to security concerns, resorting to longer routes around South Africa, it would further escalate price increases for essential goods.

To address this challenge, President Wickremesinghe announced the deployment of a Sri Lanka Navy ship to the Red Sea "for security purposes."