Safety of Life at Sea: Current Status of Sri Lanka

Abstract

Asia is rising as the global economic power. Consequently, seaborne activities including flow of maritime trade container port activities, cruise industry as well as the fishery activities are increasing in the Indian Ocean. It hosts the most critical Sea Lanes of Communication (SLOCs) in the globe. Therefore, maintaining of security and safety of the Indian Ocean is a prime concern of littoral states as well as other major maritime users. Considering the location of Sri Lanka in the Indian Ocean and as a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), 1974 Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) convention and 1979 Search and Rescue (SAR) convention, the government is obliged to ensure the maritime safety within her SAR region. Therefore, this paper aims to examine the current status of maritime safety in the Sri Lanka Search and Rescue Region. The paper concludes with some practical policy recommendations.