Maritime search & rescue seminar for Sri Lankan military aboard Japanese ship Akebono

Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) ship Akebono made a goodwill visit to Sri Lanka from 9-10 April.  

The vessel was on its way to the Gulf of Aden to participate in an anti-piracy operation.

During the visit, a maritime search and rescue seminar for the Sri Lankan military was held aboard the ship as a Capacity Building Assistance (CBA) initiative in the security and defence sector. This was the first time that a CBA was conducted in the Indian Ocean region by the Self-Defense Force. The aim of this seminar was not only to strengthen the Sri Lankan military’s capability in maritime search and rescue by sharing JMSDF’s knowledge but also to reconfirm the importance of values such as safety, openness and transparency in the maritime domain, which is foundational for regional and world peace and prosperity.

Japan attaches great importance to the maintenance of stability based on the rule of law in the Indian Ocean region, which is a strategic area connecting Asia and Africa. The Japanese Government will continue defence cooperation with Sri Lanka through activities such as CBA, JMSDF ship’s goodwill visit, people-to-people exchange and consultations in order to promote maritime security in the region.