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Australian Defence Force personnel have hosted a maritime law forum with members of the Sri Lankan Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Police.
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ADF lawyers from the Navy and Army delivered information on international legal aspects of transnational crime.
The forum is part of Australia’s flagship regional engagement activity, Indo-Pacific Endeavour, involving military exercises, workshops, training, sporting events, and cultural activities.
Indo-Pacific Endeavour encompasses 14 countries between June and October.
RAN Legal Officer Commander Jaqueline Swinton said the legal team had come from the ADF’s Indo-Pacific Centre for Military Law to deliver a two-day maritime security workshop.
“This workshop is part of the ADF’s commitment to education and training in Sri Lanka as part of the Defence Cooperation Program,” CMDR Swinton said.
“For me as a lawyer, being here has really helped my understanding of the maritime legal issues being faced by the Sri Lankan Armed Forces and how the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea can support a more stable and secure Indo-Pacific region.”
Commander Maritime Border Command Rear Admiral Justin Jones said the Defence Strategic Review highlighted the need to invest in regional partnerships.
“Indo-Pacific Endeavour supports the government’s commitment to deepening our diplomatic and Defence partnerships across South-East Asia and the north-east Indian Ocean,” RADM Jones said.
“Australia is not just in this region, we are of this region and committed to working with our partners to support a peaceful, secure, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region that is predictable and operates by agreed rules.”
In Trincomalee, on Sri Lanka’s north-east coast, the Royal Australian Navy Clearance Diving Team Four conducted interoperability exercises with the Sri Lanka Navy clearance divers and Special Boat Squadron.
Executive Officer Australian Clearance Diving Team Four Lieutenant Joseph Woods said the team was sharing underwater sonar and navigation skills with the Sri Lanka Navy.
“Artemis is a new capability for use in both search and tactical diving,” LEUT Woods said.
“This week, we have trained 15 Sri Lanka Navy clearance divers and Special Boat Squadron personnel on the Artemis system, including various search techniques, target acquisition, and prosecution utilising sonar and underwater navigation.”
