The United States Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, Paul Kapur today (22) announced that the US will provide Fleet Broadband satellite communications technology to the Sri Lanka Navy, strengthening maritime connectivity along some of the world’s busiest shipping routes.
The Deputy Minister of Defense, Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd) and the Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy, Vice Admiral Kanchana Banagoda hosted Assistant Secretary Kapur aboard the SLNS Gajabahu vessel at the Port of Colombo.
The US Embassy in Colombo noted that both factions discussed maritime cooperation and the role of advanced U.S. communications technology in safeguarding international shipping lanes, supporting regional disaster response and countering illicit activity across the Indian Ocean. With Fleet Broadband, the Sri Lanka Naval fleet will be better equipped to work seamlessly with partner nations to promote peace and security at sea, whether in joint exercises or real-world missions, the US Embassy noted.
The US Embassy noted that the US provided a comprehensive Fleet Broadband system — manufactured by Cobham and Inmarsat — valued at approximately US$ 4 million (over LKR 1.2 billion) for installation across the Sri Lanka Navy’s fleet of offshore patrol vessels.
Powered by advanced U.S. satellite communications technology, Fleet Broadband enables secure ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore communications, ensuring reliable voice, data, and information sharing while operating far beyond coastal range. The system will enable the Sri Lanka Navy to maintain real-time connectivity with headquarters, aircraft, and other vessels across vast maritime areas, including remote regions of the Indian Ocean, the Embassy added. This capability will strengthen maritime domain awareness, improve operational coordination, support emergency response, help interdict vessels engaged in illicit trafficking, track sanctioned vessels, and protect critical supply lines that underpin regional and global commerce.
“Today we announced the delivery of U.S. satellite communications technology to the Sri Lanka Navy, our Indo-Pacific partner,” said Kapur. “This secure, real-time connection — representing a transformational upgrade for the Sri Lanka Navy— will be available aboard their entire fleet of offshore patrol vessels and ensures no communication gap at sea. It will allow our Sri Lanka partners to respond quickly to emergencies, protect the cargo ships that fuel our economy, and disrupt illegal activity across the Indian Ocean before it reaches our shores.”
Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Defense Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd), underscored that the new communications capability significantly enhances maritime domain awareness and strengthens defense cooperation between the United States and Sri Lanka, while also reaffirming the Sri Lanka Navy’s vital role in monitoring activity across some of the world’s busiest shipping routes. He further noted that the introduction of Fleet Broadband will markedly improve the Sri Lanka Navy’s ability to maintain seamless connectivity across its fleet, sustain real time situational awareness throughout Sri Lanka’s maritime domain, and share vital information with regional partners, thereby enabling a more coordinated response to illicit activities and reinforcing the continued reliability of international shipping lanes.
