Navy Boosts State Revenue With USD 598K From Maritime Security

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka Navy has generated USD 598,250 within a period of just four months by independently facilitating Onboard Security Team (OBST) operations.

The full amount has been credited directly to the Government Consolidated Fund, strengthening the national economy and public welfare initiatives.

The announcement was made at a press briefing held at the Department of Government Information, chaired by the Navy’s Director General Operations.

This initiative originates from a Cabinet decision passed on 07 July 2025, following a proposal submitted on 18 June 2025, aimed at enhancing national security while ensuring greater domestic economic benefit.

A landmark legal foundation was established when the President, using powers under Section 21(1) of the Navy Act, issued a Presidential Order on 10 August 2025.

The order designated Sri Lanka Navy-led maritime security services provided to foreign Private Maritime Security Companies (PMSCs) as a “non-naval duty”, enabling the Navy to engage in such work officially in the national interest. The order was later published in the Extraordinary Gazette No. 2449/27 on 13 August 2025.

Acting on this mandate, the Navy commenced fully independent maritime security operations on 03 October 2025, entering into agreements with several foreign PMSCs.

Since then, all operational earnings, without intermediaries, have been routed into state coffers.

Between 03 October 2025 and 08 February 2026, the Navy successfully completed 323 maritime security operations, contributing their entire revenue of USD 598,250 to the Consolidated Fund.

The Navy’s long-standing infrastructure played a critical role in making this rapid transition possible. With much of the required manpower, expertise, and physical resources already in place, the Navy has been able to carry out OBST operations with minimal additional expenditure, a major advantage in scaling up services.

Historically, since 10 September 2009, the Navy has been involved in the storage and handling of arms, ammunition, and equipment for sea marshals deployed aboard merchant vessels. However, during that period, private entities collected the bulk of earnings from the service, passing only a small fraction to the Government.

Today, the Navy’s direct involvement ensures both enhanced oversight and significantly increased revenue for the country.