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46 Sayurusara 2020 December
by even Triple E ships. With its central location, Sri and conceptualized as the blue economy. The use
Lanka needs to assert this stance and project itself as of sea for economic development by the coastal
an entrepot for goods transiting to both the east and nations is differed from the exploitation of the
the west. sea by maritime nations. Coastal states engage in
small scale industries such as fishing, tourism and
d. Strategic Value of Trincomalee Harbour extracting minerals. In contrast maritime nations
gain the economic advantages by promoting ship
The Trincomalee Harbour is the most valuable building and merchant trade whilst strengthening
asset of Sri Lanka. It is one of the world’s great natural their naval power. Sri Lanka needs to explore the
harbours, placed in a strategic point near the Bay of true potential and strategic value of Trincomalee
Bengal. This natural harbour is situated between Jaffna harbour in each discipline in order to harness the
and Batticoloa in the eastern coast. In purely physical optimum economic benefits.
terms the entrance to the harbour is four miles wide
and five miles across east to west. The inner harbour A. Recommendations
(that lies in the North) covers about 12 square miles,
and is securely enclosed by outcrops of huge rocks Trincomalee has the greatest potential to
and small islets. Its remarkable feature is the great become geopolitically and geoeconomically the
depth of the inner harbour. During the period of the most significant center in the Indian Ocean in
sailing ships its value was that it was the best harbour the 21st Century. However, actualization of this
on India’s strategic east coast, where a fleet could be potential depends on first, maintaining friendly
anchored, and operated during the monsoon season geopolitical relations with all major powers in the
between October and March. Such a fleet was in the Indian Ocean, second adopting open investment
strategic situation of being able to dominate the Bay friendly economic and fiscal policies and not
of Bengal and the Eastern Sea. Thus any power that limiting Trincomalee exclusively to one or another
controlled this harbour had a great advantage from a state, thirdly development of infrastructure
naval and strategic perspective. The British Admiral, within Trincomalee and with Colombo (high
Horatio Nelson had called it “the finest harbour in speed railway, expressway, international airport,
the world ”. Its possession had enabled the British developed harbor (including Tambalagam Bay),
to control more effectively their Empire in India. fourthly developing a cooperative relationship
During World War II it protected the British Eastern between Provincial and national government
Fleet, as its rocky promontories, and bays, gave ample giving priority to Sri Lankan national interests.
anchorage and protection.
All that has been mentioned requires a
In the current day strategic context the proper plan and implementation, that needs to
Trincomalee Harbour is an ideal harbour for nuclear be coordinated by an authority with power set up
submarines, which are able to dive low within its inner by the Central Government. This authority would
harbour to effectively avoid radar, and sonar detection. have to be staffed by well trained officers with the
It is, therefore, a strategic prize any power would like correct positive attitude. If it is dependent on the
to possess. It is in this situation that the Trincomalee present officers from the public service, it would
harbour would play a dominant role in the politics certainly be a non starter.
and diplomacy of the island state. The diplomatic
relations of the Kandyan Kingdom in the eighteenth References
and nineteenth centuries, Indo-Sri Lankan relations
in the post-World War Two period, the present and Abhayawardhane, S (2011) Sri Lanka’s economic future – vast
future diplomacy and politics, revolve around how prospects in Trincomalee, Sunday Times
the Trincomalee Harbour issue will be resolved. The Balachandran, P K (2005) Sri Lanka's strategic importance,
study shows that the issues of power and security The
interests were uppermost in the history and politics Hindustan Times
of Sri Lanka and the Trincomalee Harbour. Balachandran, P K (2018) Why are US, Japan and India
making a beeline for Trincomalee, Daily mirror
V. CONCLUSION Hennayake, SK (2016) Strategic importance of Trincomalee
harbour for contemporary geopolitics, Trinco-dialogue
The potential of utilizing the Trincomalee
harbour and associated resources for economic Commander (ASW)
development is immense. The economical use of living JPKP Kumara RSP & Bar, psn
and non-living resources, maritime trade and tourism NRX 1360
are few such fields attached to the maritime domain SLCG Rohana
by even Triple E ships. With its central location, Sri and conceptualized as the blue economy. The use
Lanka needs to assert this stance and project itself as of sea for economic development by the coastal
an entrepot for goods transiting to both the east and nations is differed from the exploitation of the
the west. sea by maritime nations. Coastal states engage in
small scale industries such as fishing, tourism and
d. Strategic Value of Trincomalee Harbour extracting minerals. In contrast maritime nations
gain the economic advantages by promoting ship
The Trincomalee Harbour is the most valuable building and merchant trade whilst strengthening
asset of Sri Lanka. It is one of the world’s great natural their naval power. Sri Lanka needs to explore the
harbours, placed in a strategic point near the Bay of true potential and strategic value of Trincomalee
Bengal. This natural harbour is situated between Jaffna harbour in each discipline in order to harness the
and Batticoloa in the eastern coast. In purely physical optimum economic benefits.
terms the entrance to the harbour is four miles wide
and five miles across east to west. The inner harbour A. Recommendations
(that lies in the North) covers about 12 square miles,
and is securely enclosed by outcrops of huge rocks Trincomalee has the greatest potential to
and small islets. Its remarkable feature is the great become geopolitically and geoeconomically the
depth of the inner harbour. During the period of the most significant center in the Indian Ocean in
sailing ships its value was that it was the best harbour the 21st Century. However, actualization of this
on India’s strategic east coast, where a fleet could be potential depends on first, maintaining friendly
anchored, and operated during the monsoon season geopolitical relations with all major powers in the
between October and March. Such a fleet was in the Indian Ocean, second adopting open investment
strategic situation of being able to dominate the Bay friendly economic and fiscal policies and not
of Bengal and the Eastern Sea. Thus any power that limiting Trincomalee exclusively to one or another
controlled this harbour had a great advantage from a state, thirdly development of infrastructure
naval and strategic perspective. The British Admiral, within Trincomalee and with Colombo (high
Horatio Nelson had called it “the finest harbour in speed railway, expressway, international airport,
the world ”. Its possession had enabled the British developed harbor (including Tambalagam Bay),
to control more effectively their Empire in India. fourthly developing a cooperative relationship
During World War II it protected the British Eastern between Provincial and national government
Fleet, as its rocky promontories, and bays, gave ample giving priority to Sri Lankan national interests.
anchorage and protection.
All that has been mentioned requires a
In the current day strategic context the proper plan and implementation, that needs to
Trincomalee Harbour is an ideal harbour for nuclear be coordinated by an authority with power set up
submarines, which are able to dive low within its inner by the Central Government. This authority would
harbour to effectively avoid radar, and sonar detection. have to be staffed by well trained officers with the
It is, therefore, a strategic prize any power would like correct positive attitude. If it is dependent on the
to possess. It is in this situation that the Trincomalee present officers from the public service, it would
harbour would play a dominant role in the politics certainly be a non starter.
and diplomacy of the island state. The diplomatic
relations of the Kandyan Kingdom in the eighteenth References
and nineteenth centuries, Indo-Sri Lankan relations
in the post-World War Two period, the present and Abhayawardhane, S (2011) Sri Lanka’s economic future – vast
future diplomacy and politics, revolve around how prospects in Trincomalee, Sunday Times
the Trincomalee Harbour issue will be resolved. The Balachandran, P K (2005) Sri Lanka's strategic importance,
study shows that the issues of power and security The
interests were uppermost in the history and politics Hindustan Times
of Sri Lanka and the Trincomalee Harbour. Balachandran, P K (2018) Why are US, Japan and India
making a beeline for Trincomalee, Daily mirror
V. CONCLUSION Hennayake, SK (2016) Strategic importance of Trincomalee
harbour for contemporary geopolitics, Trinco-dialogue
The potential of utilizing the Trincomalee
harbour and associated resources for economic Commander (ASW)
development is immense. The economical use of living JPKP Kumara RSP & Bar, psn
and non-living resources, maritime trade and tourism NRX 1360
are few such fields attached to the maritime domain SLCG Rohana
