Inauguration of the Regional Centre for Maritime Studies (RCMS)
11 to 13 December
The Regional Centre for Maritime Studies was inaugurated on 11 December, in the presence of representatives of the Sri Lanka Ministry of Defence and the Sri Lanka Navy, the Vice-Chancellor of General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU), which hosts the RCMS, and France’s Secretary General of the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs.
Initially, this centre, developed through Franco-Sri Lankan cooperation, is set to host representatives of Sri Lankan services and administrations. From 2026 it is expected to be opened up to other countries in the region.
The first training session at the centre took place from 11 to 13 December.
It focused on spill response at sea and was run by Cedre and two Sri Lankan speakers, for around twenty trainees (Sri Lanka Navy and Coast Guard, Marine Environment Protection Agency, port authorities, National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency, Department of Wildlife Conservation, Department of Coast Conservation and Coastal Resource Management).