(UDHAYAM, COLOMBO) – Sri Lanka Navy has earned over USD 20 million to date since taking over the duty of facilitating On-board Security Teams (OBST) 15 months ago.
At the existing currency exchange rate, the earnings amount to a staggering Rs. 3 billion, through OBST operations from mid November 2015. The earnings had come across from over 8,200 ship movements mainly through Galle and Colombo operation centers. Accordingly, the Navy facilitates 550 OBST moves at an average, earning approximately Rs. 200 million per month.
The Sri Lanka Navy took over OBST duties following a special directive by the President Maithripala Sirisena. The earnings are directly deposited in the Consolidated Fund of the Government.
Sri Lanka Navy is responsible of receiving, storing and issuing of weapons, ammunition and equipment registered with foreign and local On-board Security Teams (OBST) who operates for merchant shipping companies.