Sri Lanka, strategically located on the busy East-West maritime route, has seen a notable influx of warships from major global powers between 2024 and now. India led with eight naval vessels including two submarines, followed by China with five, Japan with three, the United States with two, and France with one aircraft carrier strike group. These increased naval engagements had deepened Sri Lanka’s growing importance in regional maritime security, with global powers deepening defence and security relations in the Indian Ocean region.
According to the data, India has been actively strengthening its maritime ties with Sri Lanka, sending a series of naval vessels between 2024 and now, the data showed. Between 8-10 January 2024, the Indian Navy’s INS Kabra, a Fast Attack Craft, docked at Colombo Port. Following that, INS Karanj, a submarine, visited the port from 3-5 February 2024. In late February, the Indian Coast Guard ships ICGS Samarth and ICGS Abhinav arrived at Galle and Colombo Ports between 27 February and 1 March 2024. Between 20-23 June 2024, the INS Kamorta, an anti-submarine warfare corvette, docked at Trincomalee.
Later in the year, the INS Shalki (submarine) visited Colombo from 2-4 August 2024, followed by the INS Mumbai, a guided-missile destroyer, from 26-29 August 2024. In November, INS Vela, another submarine, made a visit to Colombo from 11-13 November 2024. The most recent Indian naval visit was from INS Kuthar, a Khukri-class corvette, which arrived in Colombo for a three-day operational visit from 3-6 March 2025.
China, on the other hand, has sent five vessels, including both warships and support ships, to Sri Lanka. On 26 August 2024, three Chinese warships—Hefei (Destroyer), Wuzhishan (Landing Platform Dock), and Qilianshan (Landing Platform Dock)—arrived at Colombo Port for a formal visit. This was followed by the Po Lang, a Chinese sail training ship, which docked at Colombo on 8 October 2024. On 21 December 2024, the Peace Ark, a Chinese naval hospital ship, arrived in Colombo as part of Mission Harmony-2024, providing medical services to Sri Lankans.
Japan has also increased its maritime presence in Sri Lanka, with notable visits from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). JS Samidare, a destroyer, conducted joint exercises with Sri Lanka’s SLNS Gajabahu at Colombo Port from 20-22 June 2024, and made another visit from 17-19 November 2024. Additionally, the JMSDF’s Murasame arrived in Colombo on 22 March 2025, for a replenishment visit.
The United States Navy made two important port calls in Sri Lanka in 2024. The USS Spruance, a guided missile destroyer, visited Colombo from 19-20 August 2024, and the USS Michael Murphy, another Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, arrived from 16-17 November 2024. In addition to these visits, Commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM), Admiral Samuel J. Paparo, was in Colombo from 19-21 March 2025. Also, Admiral Steve Koehler, Commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, visited Sri Lanka on 10 October 2024, to strengthen bilateral security cooperation.
France’s Clemenceau 25 aircraft carrier strike group arrived in Colombo on 16 March 2025, reinforcing regional maritime security collaboration. This visit highlights the long-standing maritime ties between Sri Lanka and France, which were further cemented with the establishment of the Regional Centre for Maritime Studies (RCMS) in 2024.