By Sena Thoradeniya

Whilst making an address at the Shilpa Abhimani 2023” Awards Ceremony held at the Sirimavo Bandaranaike Memorial Exhibition Centre on 3 January 2024, RW had the audacity to say that he is considering to send a warship to Red Sea in support of a US – led operation. It is astounding that RW has chosen an event presenting awards to village-level humble craftsmen to disclose such an important strategic decision which has local and international overtones. Has he thought that local craftsperson’s problems and grievances are caused by Houthis who are attacking vessels in the Red Sea area? 

This writer heard this in a primetime news telecast but understood its gravity only after reading a news item.       

Shamindra Ferdinando in The Island of January 5 disclosed the possibility of Sri Lankan Navy sending a warship to the Red Sea in support of a US – led operation to thwart Houthi attacks on commercial shipping passing through the Red Sea. He further stated that the US has requested nearly two dozen countries including Sri Lanka to provide with warships and the US has declared that twenty countries have signed up for Operation Prosperity Guardian”, a new maritime task force meant to protect this shipping route.

Daily Mirror on 4 January 2024 going a little further reported that RW has said that a decision has been taken to deploy a ship from the Sri Lanka Navy on the Red Sea area contributing to the security of the region against Houthi activities.

Questions that should be posed to the President, his Cabinet of Ministers, his so-called National Security Advisor, Defense Secretary, Tri-forces Commanders and Pohottuwa supporters are:

(1) Whether Sri Lankan (if we have any) vessels are under threat of Houthi missile attacks?

(2) For what reason Sri Lanka join in a new maritime task force” with US, Israel, UK and France and other Western stooges?

(3) Has RW and his advisors calculated the cost involved in the deployment of a Navy warship?

(4) Under current economic situation in the country can Sri Lanka afford such a huge cost?

(5) Does RW really think that by sending a Navy warship he can stop increase of freight charges and delayed delivery, as ships are compelled to navigate around ancient sea route around Cape of Good Hope and reduce cost of imports to Sri Lanka and guarantee a constant supply of our essential imports without any disruption to supply chains?

(6) Is Sri Lanka bound to deploy Offshore Patrol Vessels such as the vessel commissioned by the US Coast Guard Courageous” and gifted” to Sri Lanka Navy (SLNS Samudura) by the US in a crisis like this?

(7) Is US and the new maritime task force” attempting to utilize Sri Lanka Navy’s capabilities on asymmetric naval warfare, amphibious and land operations gained through many years of engaging in counter- insurgency operations against the dreaded Sea Tigers, its capability in sea battles, surveillance, intercepting   and destroying floating arsenals, in short its blue water capability for their advantage?

(8) Can RW and Yahapalana grandees (including JVP) forget what they have done to Avant Guard and its key players supposed to have been deployed to counter Somalian sea pirates? 

(9) We pose the most pertinent question to Anura Kumara the newfound parlor boy of Chung: Will you oppose RW if he decides to send a warship to the Red Sea area at the behest of your ‘sister’ Julie Chung? Or sing, as an expression of solidarity, We are family; I got (all my sisters) my sister with me; We are family; Get up everybody and sing” to the tune of Sister Sledge?

Julie Chung US Ambassador to Sri Lanka on 4 January, only a day after RW’s statement has welcomed Sri Lanka Air Force Commander Air Marshall Udeni Rajapksa to the US embassy, to discuss ways we (they) can build on ongoing US and Sri Lankan Security Cooperation and support Sri Lanka’s goals for maritime security”.  Why does Julie Chung discuss about Sri Lankan Security Cooperation” and Sri Lanka’s goals for maritime security” with our security top brass soon after RW’s disclosure?   It seems that Chung has already begun to negotiate with our security high command about sending a warship to Red Sea area under the garb of Sri Lanka’s maritime security”. 

What are the dangers of sending a warship to Red Sea area? There are many. Sri Lanka (not only the SL Navy’s warship) can be an easy target. Remember how nearly 95 persons were killed recently at the fourth anniversary of the commemoration of Iran’s most powerful General Qassim Soleimani (slain by US in a drone attack in 2020) at his gravesite. A repetition of an Easter Sunday carnage cannot be ruled out here with external (American?) support. Are RW and Julie Chung jointly preparing the grounds for a postponement of elections?

Close on the heels of meeting Air Force Commander, Julie Chung on 5 January met Sirisena, exchanging views” on the political and economic landscape in the year to come, including the importance of engaging all sectors for inclusive political dialogue”. Is Chung harnessing support for Operation Prosperity Guardian”?  Next few days will be very crucial as we will be able to see who will be involved in her inclusive political dialogue”.