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NAVSTRAT-2030 NAVSTRAT-2030

Strategic Vision threats primarily; climatic events, financial and energy crises, pandemic diseases, cyber and other
Planning and articulating a maritime strategy is a vast process, where solution for the problem forms of attack on vital national infrastructure.
statement or defining the issue resulted as strategy. Two scenarios can be brought; peacetime and
crisis situation. The peacetime scenario refers to the statecraft of forming and materializing a Sri Lanka’s Maritime Space
strategic vision of national security. Hence, the strategic vision of the government was taken as Sri Lanka is assigned a 200 nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and Pollution
guidance for formulating NAVSTRAT-2030 in order to fulfil a safe and secure maritime Prevention Zone (Figure 1.1). This area is approximately eight times the land area. The Search
environment. and Rescue (SAR) Region, which is 27 times the land area approximately, is another responsibility
that is assigned to Sri Lanka (Figure 1.2).
National Security Objectives as Envisioned
From the functional point of view, national security objectives act as ENDS in the ENDS-WAYS- Figure 1.1
MEANS process of making strategy. The following key areas are essential for the endeavour; Maritime Zones of Sri Lanka
 Safety and security of the country and its people (Security agenda)
 National prosperity and wellbeing of the people (Development agenda)
 A favourable and respectable position on the international stage (Influence)

Sri Lanka’s National Security Objectives as envisioned are outlined as follows;

 Upholding the Constitution and protecting people
 Protecting Sea/ Air/ Virtual lines of communication while having effective control
of borders
 Pursuit or sustaining economic prosperity
 Strengthening partnerships/ relations for regional and international security and
stability
 Upholding democratic institutions and advancements of good governance,
preserving national values
 Ensuring public safety and crisis response
 Protecting, managing, preserving and developing natural and physical environment
 Prevention of negative domestic developments and events that could affect
communal harmony and co-existence of diverse groups in Sri Lanka
 Building and sustaining health security mechanisms for a resilient community
 Education for a sustainable and developed society

National Security – Sri Lanka Navy’s Perspective

Over the period of time, the concept of national security has undergone enormous expansion,
modification and evolution. It now refers to almost every facet of national life and nation-building,
rather than just the conventional ideas of internal and external defence. Economic progression and
security are interdependent and mutually reinforcing notions in the new paradigm. National
security is contingent upon the development, or the protection of the environment, the economy
and social well-being and vice versa. Greater social peace and stability follow prosperity and
progress increases when these conditions are met. In present-day geopolitics and security dynamics
in the world, no country alone is capable of maintaining its national security. It requires integration
within and is dependent upon, our neighbours’ and partners’ security.

Therefore, our national security mainly focuses on the protection of the country’s sovereignty,
territorial integrity and core national values. It largely encompasses the safety of our state and Sri
Lankan nationals; ensuring people’s welfare, well-being, ways of life and protecting from external
and internal threats. Further, it is also required to protect the state and the citizens from other

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