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NAVSTRAT-2030 NAVSTRAT-2030

The NCF plays a pivotal role in maintaining a well-balanced combat power, encompassing CHAPTER 8
manoeuvrability, firepower, protection and leadership within the context of maritime strategy. This
strategic inclusion not only strengthens a nation’s defensive posture but also positions it to mitigate INTERAGENCY COORDINATION
emerging challenges proactively, thereby enhancing its strategic standing in the maritime domain.
Following cadre details are used to best utilization of the NCF in par with the concept of rightsizing
naval cadre for achieving the maritime security objectives. Maritime terrorist action, cyber-attacks, pandemics, natural disasters and other maritime security
threats spread beyond organizational and geographic boundaries. A domestic terrorist attack or a
public health emergency like the COVID-19 outbreak, for instance, can have an impact all over
the country. It could be challenging one agency to handle such incidents alone. Thence interagency
coordination is a vital factor in a country’s maritime strategy, for counter maritime security threats.
Interagency coordination encompasses the full range of efforts and actions carried out concurrently
by two or more government/non-government agencies working jointly and contemporaneously to
address a shared threat, problem, or occurrence. Collective efforts by different agencies benefit
collective capabilities for greater progress, unanimity of efforts or ensuring effectiveness in
achieving a common goal. Interagency collaboration should not be the ultimate goal of maritime
administration; it often implies a more reactive rather than proactive approach to marine security
concerns. During coordination, agencies’ responses to incidents or threats must give way to active
cooperation and coordination on shares in initiatives, as well as complete integration of
mechanisms supporting a layered approach to maritime security governance and operational
synergy. When considering key agencies with which Navy needs to work in coordination/
collaborations, there are the number of functional areas of some form of maritime concerns
including technological and health services as indicated in Figure 8.1.

Level of Coordination

It is necessary to understand there are several levels of interaction between agencies considering
the importance and frequency of occurrence in the maritime environment. Thus, to ensure seamless
agency-to-agency functioning in the maritime environment, interagency coordination must be
developed at the following levels.

● Policy Level. Constitute the principle mechanism for developing policy advice
and recommendations for interagency coordination.

● Operational Level. This should be Command Headquarter level coordination and
need to set guidelines and limitations of the interagency coordination.

● Tactical Level. This level is for assets at sea, field officers and operational level
should provide clear guidance on operations.

Factors towards Effective Interagency Coordination

There are numerous ministries and agencies involved in maritime governance in Sri Lanka and it
indicates the necessity of a systematic approach to interagency coordination in maritime
governance according to set parameters. To attain positive interaction between different agencies
whilst achieving shared goals under any designed mechanism need to have some vital factors.
There are essential guidelines for interagency coordination along with recommendations for
improving maritime security in Sri Lanka by strengthening interagency synergy. In this, one
agency must not develop all the parameters and all the parties must be on the same understanding
to develop parameters such as MoUs for interagency coordination.
● Collaborative Platforms. Without an appropriate platform that enables agencies
to come together to discuss common issues, collaboration is impossible. These

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