Raising the issue during a parliamentary session, Rajapaksa said international media had reported that a ship was attacked within Sri Lanka’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). He noted that the Sri Lanka Navy had rescued the injured and admitted them to the Galle Hospital following the incident.
“About a hundred people are reportedly missing. We need to know from where this ship approached Sri Lankan waters. Was it returning to the Arabian Sea after participating in an international military exercise in Visakhapatnam, or did it come towards Sri Lanka from that sea?” he asked.
The MP stressed that if the attack had occurred within Sri Lanka’s EEZ, it would fall under the country’s maritime security responsibility. “Our fishermen operate in the southern seas. Even though it is considered international waters, if this incident occurred within the EEZ, it is within our jurisdiction to ensure maritime security,” he said, calling on the government to inform the public of the exact circumstances surrounding the incident.
Rajapaksa also questioned the effectiveness of the country’s intelligence services, alleging lapses in coordination. Referring to the Easter Sunday attacks, he claimed that intelligence handling remained a concern and accused the government of taking certain actions for political purposes rather than ensuring justice.
Commenting on the broader geopolitical context, Rajapaksa said the ongoing conflict in the Middle East involving Israel, the United States and Iran had heightened tensions globally. He questioned whether any agreements entered into by the government had contributed to the situation surrounding the damaged vessel near Sri Lanka’s coast.
“The Deputy Minister of Defence is present. This falls under your purview. The country needs to know whether this is the result of any agreement signed or whether due assessment has been made of the evolving situation in the Middle East,” he said.
Rajapaksa urged the authorities to conduct a thorough study of the developments and make a comprehensive statement to Parliament and the public regarding the attack and its implications for Sri Lanka’s maritime security.
