{"id":155446,"date":"2026-04-01T15:35:34","date_gmt":"2026-04-01T22:35:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/?p=155446"},"modified":"2026-04-01T15:35:34","modified_gmt":"2026-04-01T22:35:34","slug":"sri-lanka-should-plan-to-benefit-from-war","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/2026\/04\/01\/sri-lanka-should-plan-to-benefit-from-war\/","title":{"rendered":"Sri Lanka should plan to benefit from War"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dr Sarath Obeysekera<\/em><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n

\u2693 Strategic Opportunity: Sri Lanka as a Neutral Maritime Services Hub<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

My experience at Colombo Dockyard with Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines shows three critical truths:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. War-affected fleets always need repair capacity outside conflict zones<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Neutral \u0926\u0947\u0936\u094b\u0902 (like Sri Lanka) become trusted service points<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Margins are high when capacity is scarce<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

     Why This Opportunity Will Re-emerge<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    If tensions ease or reconstruction begins:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Iran will need:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
      \n
    • Tanker fleet refurbishment<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Naval auxiliary vessel repairs<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Dry docking outside sanction-sensitive zones<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

      But Today\u2019s Reality Is<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Unlike my earlier tenure:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      1. Sanctions Environment<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
        \n
      • Iran is still under varying levels of international sanctions<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Companies dealing with them must avoid exposure to:\n
          \n
        • OFAC<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Secondary sanctions from US\/EU<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

           This is the single biggest constraint today<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          2. Compliance Requirements<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

          Modern shipyards must ensure:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            \n
          • Transparent payment channels<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • Non-sanctioned vessel certification<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • Insurance clearance<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

             So the strategy must be carefully structured\u2014not politically naive<\/p>\n\n\n\n

             Strategic Framework for Sri Lanka<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

            1. Position Colombo as Neutral Repair Hub\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Build on:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              \n
            • Port of Colombo and Trincomalee\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • Existing capability at Colombo Dockyard<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

              Target:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \n
              • Commercial tankers (not military vessels initially)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              • Third-party managed fleets<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                2. Develop Trincomalee for Heavy Industry<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                Leverage:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                  \n
                • Trincomalee Harbour<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                  Potential:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                    \n
                  • VLCC \/ ULCC repair (large tankers)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                  • Floating dry docks<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                  • Offshore fabrication<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                     This is where scale can surpass Colombo<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                    3. Ship Recycling (Scrapping Yard) \u2013 High Potential<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

                    Model to follow:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
                      \n
                    • Alang Ship Breaking Yard<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                      Key requirements:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

                      Environmental compliance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

                      Follow:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                        \n
                      • Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                         Waste handling systems<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                          \n
                        • Oil sludge<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                        • asbestos<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                        • heavy metals<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                          Labour standards<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                          Avoid reputation damage seen in:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                            \n
                          • Bangladesh<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                          • Pakistan<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                             If done properly:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                              \n
                            • Sri Lanka can become a premium green recycling hub\u201d (higher margins than low-cost yards)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                               Business Model (Your Experience Scaled)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

                              Based on your figure (~$1M per tanker):<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                              Scenario:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
                                \n
                              • 10 ships\/month = $10M\/month<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                              • $120M\/year (repairs alone)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                                Add:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                  \n
                                • Recycling<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                • Fabrication<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                • Offshore support<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                                   This becomes a $300\u2013500M maritime cluster<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                  Strategic Advantage Sri Lanka Has<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

                                  1. Neutral foreign policy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
                                    \n
                                  • Not seen as hostile by Iran, India, or West<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                                    2. Geographic position<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
                                      \n
                                    • Near major shipping lanes<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                                      3. Skilled workforce<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
                                        \n
                                      • Proven capability from Dockyard legacy<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                                         Risks We  Must Address<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

                                         Sanctions exposure<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                          \n
                                        • Must use legal structuring<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                        • Possibly work via:\n
                                            \n
                                          • third-country operators<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                          • non-sanctioned vessels<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                                            Political inconsistency<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                              \n
                                            • Investors fear policy reversals<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                                              Port authority bottlenecks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
                                                \n
                                              • As you\u2019ve seen in Trincomalee<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                                                Practical Way Forward (Action Plan)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

                                                Step 1: Cabinet-Level Policy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
                                                  \n
                                                • Declare Neutral Maritime Services Strategy\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                                                  Step 2: Create Special Zone (Trincomalee)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
                                                    \n
                                                  • Separate regulatory framework<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                                  • Fast-track approvals<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                                                    Step 3: Invite Strategic Partners<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
                                                      \n
                                                    • Japanese (your proven link)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                                    • Korean shipbuilders<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                                    • Middle Eastern tanker operators<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                                                      Step 4: Compliance Shield<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
                                                        \n
                                                      • Dedicated legal & sanctions advisory unit<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                                                         Final Insight<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

                                                        Your instinct is exactly right:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                                        War does not only create destruction\u2014it creates floating assets that must be repaired somewhere safe<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                                        Sri Lanka\u2019s opportunity is not to take sides\u2014but to become:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                                        the workshop of the Indian Ocean<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                                        Regards

                                                        Dr Sarath Obeysekera<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                                        <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                                                        Dr Sarath Obeysekera \u2693 Strategic Opportunity: Sri Lanka as a Neutral Maritime Services Hub My experience at Colombo Dockyard with Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines shows three critical truths:  Why This Opportunity Will Re-emerge If tensions ease or reconstruction begins: Iran will need: But Today\u2019s Reality Is Unlike my earlier tenure: 1. Sanctions Environment […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[116],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-155446","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-dr-sarath-obeysekera"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/155446","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=155446"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/155446\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":155447,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/155446\/revisions\/155447"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=155446"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=155446"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=155446"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}