Red Sea deployment: SLN still studying US proposal

By Shamindra Ferdinando

The Navy was still studying the possibility of sending a warship to the Red Sea in support of a recently launched US-led operation to thwart Houthi attacks on commercial shipping, sources said.

Sources said that a thorough study was required before such a deployment could be made in a region prone to missile attacks.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Wednesday (3) disclosed the possibility of the Navy joining the high profile mission. Sri Lanka’s pledge to join the US led endeavour was revealed at an event held at the BMICH and it was relayed by at least one news broadcast. But several countries have disassociated from the task already.

Iranian backed Houthi units in Yemen have mounted attacks targeting commercial ships passing through the Red Sea in response to the continuing Israeli military action in Gaza. Israel launched operations against Hamas in the wake of the Oct 7 raid on the Jewish State.

The US has requested nearly two dozen countries, including Sri Lanka to contribute warships.The US has declared that 20 countries have signed up for ‘Operation Prosperity Guardian’, a new maritime task force meant to protect the vital shipping route.

The navies of the United States, UK and France have each shot down Houthi-launched drones or missiles, according to international news agencies.

Sources here said that the cost of the deployment of a warship in the Red Sea would be huge and the current economic situation too have to be considered. Sri Lanka has several Advanced Offshore Patrol Vessels (AOPVs) and Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) acquired during the war and after and were responsible for successful anti-drug operations.During the war, SLN hunted over a half a dozen floating arsenals of the LTTE on the high seas.