The government plans to buy four unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) from Israel Aerospace Industries, Deputy Defence Minister Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd.) told Parliament on Thursday.
Jayasekara said the purchase would be made under a government-to-government arrangement. He said the aircraft are meant to strengthen Sri Lanka’s maritime surveillance and to improve search and rescue operations and disaster response.
The Government Information Department said Parliament approved a supplementary estimate on Thursday, 5 November, allocating Rs. 4,261 million to the Sri Lanka Air Force to establish a UAV system.
The department said the money will be drawn from the Consolidated Fund, other government funds or government loans. It said the move responds to a changing operational environment, disaster vulnerability in the Bay of Bengal region and threats from persistent adverse weather.
The statements did not give a delivery date, the model of aircraft or a unit price. They also did not say how the total would be divided between the aircraft and related equipment.
Background
A supplementary estimate is a request for funds beyond those already set aside in the annual Appropriation Act. Under the Constitution, Parliament controls public finance, so spending of this kind needs its approval.
The Consolidated Fund is the main government account into which state revenue is paid and from which spending is authorised by Parliament. A government-to-government arrangement means the contract is agreed directly between the two states, rather than through an open tender among private suppliers.
Sri Lanka lies on major shipping routes in the Indian Ocean, and its Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard share responsibility for monitoring the waters around the island. The Air Force has also taken a leading part in flood and cyclone relief in past years, including airlifts and rescue flights.
Unmanned aircraft can stay in the air for long periods and can send images in real time, which is why many countries use them for coastal patrols and for assessing damage after disasters.
What it means
The approved sum of Rs. 4,261 million will come from public funds or borrowing, so the cost falls on the state budget. How much of it is borrowed will depend on which of the three sources the Treasury uses.
For coastal communities and those living in disaster-prone areas, the stated aim is better monitoring of the sea and faster response when storms, floods or accidents at sea occur. The government has not said when the aircraft would enter service.