With the annulment of the previous agreement with Avant Garde, Sri Lanka Navy was entrusted the task of providing security to merchant vessels and supplying services to Security Firms involved in providing onboard security for merchant ships. The Navy took over these duties following a special directive issued by President Maithripala Sirisena. Since taking over the duties, naval personnel have been involved in providing services to merchant ships carrying mainly weapons and ammunition. Since taking over these tasks, the Navy ensured that the security requirements of the merchant vessels which are frequenting the High Risk Area (HRA) are provided services efficiently by the naval personnel at Galle and Colombo harbours.
Navy Spokesperson, Captain Akram Alavi noted that since the operations were taken over from Avant Garde Maritime Services Ltd., on 13 November 2015, the Sri Lanka Navy was able to earn Rs 2.33 billion for the Government of Sri Lanka to date. The earnings generated through OBST operations are directly deposited in the Consolidated Fund of the Sri Lanka Government, said Captain Alavi.
A year of On Board Security Team Operations (OBSTO), which were taken over from Avant Garde Maritime Security Services Ltd., last year yield this profit.
The Galle and Colombo operation centres look after the receiving, holding and issuing of weapons, ammunition and other related equipment belonging to foreign as well as local On Board Security Teams.
