Japan has agreed to provide grant assistance of Rs 2.08 billion for 25 patrol boats for the Sri Lanka Navy, Sri Lankan media reported on Tuesday. The two governments signed an agreement in Colombo for the boats under Japan's Official Security Assistance (OSA) programme.

The grant is worth about 1 billion yen, or around US$6.3 million, according to the Japanese government. The boats are intended to strengthen the navy's ability to monitor and secure Sri Lanka's maritime boundaries, with Japan's defence ministry describing the island as a point of strategic importance on Indian Ocean sea lanes.

What the boats will do

The vessels are rigid-hulled inflatable boats designed for maritime surveillance, patrols and monitoring of territorial waters. They are expected to support the navy's work on maritime safety, search and rescue and disaster relief around Sri Lanka's coasts.

Sri Lanka sits astride some of the world's busiest shipping lanes, and the navy has long relied on small patrol craft to police its waters. The 25 new boats will add to a fleet that already includes fast attack craft used for coastal security and anti-smuggling operations.

A growing security partnership

The deal is the latest step in a deepening defence relationship between Tokyo and Colombo. Japan launched its Official Security Assistance framework in 2023, allowing it to provide equipment directly to the armed forces of partner countries, distinct from its traditional development aid.

Japan's first security assistance package for Sri Lanka, agreed in September 2025, supplied surveillance drones for the navy. Further details of the patrol boat deal, including delivery dates and the boats' specifications, are expected to be announced in due course.

Read the Lanka Newspapers report and the SAGIRE report.