President Ranil Wickramasinghe has said that Colombo and other Sri Lankan ports will be under serious threat if cargo ships coming to Sri Lanka through the Red Sea are not protected.
The President has also mentioned that this is the first time that ships are being sent from Sri Lanka to protect international waters after the reign of Maha Parakramabahu.
The President also pointed out that if we withdraw after looking at the cost of deploying ships for the security of the Red Sea, the country will have to bear a huge loss due to the non-arrival of ships.
The President has emphasized that Sri Lankan warships are sent to the Red Sea to provide security for cargo ships and not to support wars between states.
The President said that other countries in the region have also come forward to provide security for cargo ships coming to their countries.
The president pointed out that due to the Houthi fighters, many ships are avoiding the Red Sea and using other routes, so the shipping charges have been increased. He pointed out that the price of essential food items imported into this country may rise as a ship has to go to countries like South Africa to arrive at the port of Colombo.
The President also said that Sri Lanka, which was waiting for a fuel ship a year and a half ago, is now in the position of sending ships to protect international waters.
President Ranil Wickramasinghe further said that Sri Lanka has agreed to send a ship of the Sri Lanka Navy to the Red Sea to support its security against Houthi activities.
President Ranil Wickramasinghe expressed these views when a group of ministers including Manusha Nanayakkara, Harin Fernando met this morning.
