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30 Sri Lanka Navy Journal

Ocean. Below figure one, denotes the strategic location of Sri Lanka in the Indian
Ocean and the world’s busiest maritime routes passing the Sri Lankan waters.

Figure 1: Strategic Location of Sri Lanka in the Indian Ocean
Source: Somasunderam, 2001

Moreover, Sri Lanka is a vital strategic location and forward base for func-
tion naval bases in order to conduct naval power projection in the IOR. Indeed, in
history also it has proven that, Sri Lanka is an ideal location for a naval outpost
to monitor the Indian Ocean and its increasingly congested maritime lanes.

In particular, developing maritime traffic in the Indian Ocean connecting
the entire globe has generated nations to increase interest on the IOR. For in-
stance, the USA naval historian Admiral AT Mahan explained that “Whoever has
control over the Indian Ocean has control of Asia and the fate of the globe in the
twenty-first century will be decided on its waterways.”

Furthermore, natural ocean current and gyres circulating in the Bay of
Bengal and the Arabian Sea create two main Monsoons to the country. Indeed, it
is also a significant natural phenomenon factor that occurs due to her strategic
location in the Indian Ocean which helps ships to navigate towards Sri Lankan
ports using sails with the help of monsoon winds.

Importantly, the strategic geographic position of the country has given
many opportunities for foreigners to land in Sri Lanka in history, today and in
the future as well. However, the arrival of people from foreign nations has affect-
ed the national identity of the country.