Maritime Rescue Coordinating Centre to be developed by India State-owned defence company

• Bharat Electronics will undertake project
• Part of Govt. plan to develop country as maritime hub

Bharat Electronics Ltd., an Indian State-owned aerospace and defence company, has won Cabinet approval to set up a Maritime Rescue Coordinating Centre in Sri Lanka as part of the Government’s policy of developing the country as a maritime hub.

The objective of the project is to provide a more efficient, search and rescue service to ensure the security of the craft engaged in naval and fishing activities and face perils within the maritime zone of Sri Lanka.

The centre will be jointly operated with the Sri Lanka Navy as the key partner and the Coast Guard Department, the Sri Lanka Air Force and the Merchant Shipping Secretariat as other partners.

Cabinet last week approved the payment of $ 6 million, the amount agreed upon by the Government of India through the Bharat Electronic Ltd. (BEL) India, to carry out the said project in accordance with the recommendation of the Standing Cabinet Appointed Procurement Committee (SCAPC).