Wednesday Oct 07, 2026
Wednesday Oct 07, 2026
Wednesday, 7 October 2026 03:20 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
A RCSS Strategic Dialogue Report on “Maritime Security and Emerging Technology in the Indian Ocean Region” calls for stronger integration of technology into Sri Lanka’s Maritime Security Framework.
The report discusses the application of emerging technologies to maritime domain awareness, cybersecurity, critical maritime infrastructure, submarine communications cables, unmanned systems and environmental monitoring, while also considering the new vulnerabilities and dependencies created by increasing technological integration. It concludes that technological advancement alone does not ensure greater maritime security, with effective outcomes also dependent on institutional capacity, information-sharing, cybersecurity, and appropriate governance frameworks and coordination among relevant stakeholders.
Keynote speaker Digital Economy Ministry Secretary Waruna Sri Dhanapala highlighted the need to view maritime security and the digital economy as interconnected policy areas, particularly in relation to submarine cable infrastructure, offshore activities and technological sovereignty.
RCSS Research and Program Officer Shayan Peris representing the key findings of the study pointed to emerging technologies and their implications for maritime security, while the ensuing discussion examined the practical challenges of translating technological capabilities into effective maritime security responses.
The dialogue built on the findings of a RCSS Policy Study Non-Traditional Security in the Bay of Bengal: Maritime Threats, Corrective Measures and Technological Innovations, and was supported by The Asia Foundation and brought together representatives from government, the diplomatic community, the maritime and technology sectors, academia and research institutions to examine the changing technological dimensions of maritime security.
The full report is available through the RCSS website.
