The Government of Japan has agreed to provide grant assistance amounting to Japanese Yen 1 billion (approximately LKR 2.08 billion) under its Official Security Assistance (OSA) Programme 2026 to further strengthen the defence and maritime surveillance capabilities of the Sri Lanka Navy.
The Exchange of Notes pertaining to this grant assistance was signed on 10 November 2026 by Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma, Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka, and H.E. Mr. ISOMATA Akio, Ambassador of Japan to Sri Lanka, on behalf of the Government of Japan.
Under this project, 25 Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats (RHIBs) will be provided to the Sri Lanka Navy. These vessels are expected to be deployed across the Northern, Eastern, North Western, Western and Southern Naval Commands to support coastal surveillance operations and law enforcement.
Against the backdrop of evolving regional security challenges, increasing maritime activities in the Indian Ocean, and emerging threats associated with illegal activities at sea, the need to further strengthen Sri Lanka’s maritime surveillance and security capabilities has become increasingly important. The assistance is expected to enhance the operational capabilities of the Sri Lanka Navy, improve its readiness to respond to both traditional and non-traditional security challenges, and contribute to the promotion of regional peace, stability and security. In addition, the project is expected to support humanitarian assistance and disaster response operations.
In 2025, the Government of Japan provided Official Security Assistance amounting to Japanese Yen 500 million for the procurement of long-distance and short-distance drones for the Sri Lanka Navy. The present assistance represents a continuation of that cooperation. The Government of Japan has also expressed its intention to continue extending similar assistance in the future. This support marks another significant milestone in the growing security cooperation between Sri Lanka and Japan and reflects Japan’s commitment to promoting a Free and Open Indo-Pacific region.
The project will be implemented under the coordination of the Ministry of Defence, with the Sri Lanka Navy serving as the end user of the equipment.
