700+ Warships Have Visited Sri Lanka Since War’s End, Navy Reveals

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s strategic importance in the Indian Ocean continues to grow, with 26 foreign naval ships calling at the Port of Colombo in 2025 alone, according to

Rear Admiral Buddhika Liyanagamage, Commander of The Northern Naval Area.

 

Since the end of the war, over 700 warships have visited Sri Lankan ports including Colombo, Trincomalee, and Hambantota, underscoring the country’s rising profile in global naval diplomacy.

Speaking ahead of the Galle Dialogue International Maritime Conference,

Rear Admiral Liyanagamage

emphasized that Sri Lanka’s geographic location makes it an ideal gateway for secure and fair maritime trade routes, vital for both regional and global commerce and energy security.

He acknowledged the challenges of securing Sri Lanka’s vast maritime domain, noting the need for support from powerful regional navies to monitor shipping movements, illegal fishing, and pollution. 

With over 150 ships passing south of Sri Lanka daily, and more than 100,000 vessels transiting the Indian Ocean annually, maritime domain awareness is critical.

Rear Admiral Liyanagamage

also highlighted recent maritime accidents, including the Wan Hai 503 incident near India, and recalled Sri Lanka’s coordinated response to the MV X-Press Pearl disaster, stressing that international cooperation is essential for effective maritime safety and environmental protection.

“The Galle Dialogue is the ideal platform to ensure peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indian Ocean,” he concluded.