Other nations could learn from Sri Lanka Navy's fight against the Tamil Tigers

"Internationally, maritime terrorism is a new threat that is developing in the Indian Ocean," Fish writes. "While the conflict with the LTTE is approaching its conclusion, the application to extend Sri Lanka's Exclusive Economic Zone and the discovery of oil resources means that the SLN will play a vital role in the reunified country's future maritime strategy."

(Lanka-e-News 16.April.2009 11.45AM) Jane's is the leading open source intelligence provider more than 100 years of experience, an IHS company, holds an unrivaled reputation for the reliability, accuracy and impartiality of their information and advice, trusted and relied upon by business, government and military decision-makers worldwide.

Tim Fish, IHS Jane's maritime reporter, visited Sri Lanka in January to examine the Sri Lanka Navy's contribution to the defeat by government forces of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) - a contribution that has been almost completely ignored by western media outlets.

In a feature for Jane's Navy International, Tim Fish reports: "Bringing the conflict to a conclusion after 30 years of war would not have been possible without the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN)".

In order to counter the LTTE and its Sea Tiger cadres, the SLN developed three categories of small craft and associated war fighting tactics as part of a Small Boats Concept, which was a major turning point in the progress of the war against the separatist organisation. The Small Boats Concept effectively copied the Sea Tigers' asymmetric tactics, but on a much larger scale.

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