LEN - www.lankaenews.com | Sri Lanka’s Need for an External Intelligence Agency: A National Security Imperative

Sri Lanka’s Need for an External Intelligence Agency: A National Security Imperative

-By Defence Correspondent

(Lanka-e-News -15.Feb.2025, 6.20 PM) With Sri Lanka's political landscape shifting dramatically after the Aragalaya movement, which led to the fall of the Gotabaya Rajapaksa regime, and the eventual rise of Ranil Wickremesinghe, the 2024 elections saw NPP’s Anura Kumara Dissanayake assuming the presidency. This historic shift has once again raised concerns over foreign influence in Sri Lanka’s political affairs, often disguised under the umbrella of NGOs, think tanks, and activism.

Given Sri Lanka’s strategic location in the Indian Ocean and its growing importance in global geopolitics, the time has come to establish an External Intelligence Service Agency—one capable of identifying and neutralizing external threats to Sri Lanka’s sovereignty, democracy, and national security.

A Nation at the Crossroads of Geopolitical Tensions

Sri Lanka’s geographic location makes it a critical player in global maritime trade and military strategy. As a result, it has long been a battleground for foreign intelligence operations, with countries such as India (RAW), Pakistan (ISI), China (MSS), the US (CIA), Russia (FSB), Israel (Mossad), and Australia (ASIS) all seeking influence.

Currently, Sri Lanka does not have a dedicated external intelligence agency to monitor, investigate, and counter such foreign interference. This has left the country vulnerable to:

Foreign-funded political manipulation under the pretext of NGOs and think tanks.
International drug cartels using Sri Lanka as a transit hub for smuggling.
Covert destabilization efforts aimed at weakening Sri Lanka’s democracy and economy.
Tamil separatist elements abroad working to revive anti-Sri Lankan movements.
Islamic extremism and global terrorist networks using Sri Lanka for recruitment or logistics.

Without a strong external intelligence network, Sri Lanka is at risk of becoming an easily exploitable pawn in regional and global power struggles.

International Criminal Networks & Sri Lanka’s Growing Vulnerability

A significant concern is the increasing role of Sri Lanka in global organized crime and the narcotics trade. Intelligence sources suggest that criminal networks based in Dubai, Belarus, Malaysia, and India have connections with Mexican and Afghan drug cartels, using Sri Lanka as a key transit point for illegal narcotics.

Additionally, high-profile Sri Lankan criminals operating from abroad are suspected of funding political instability within the country. These actors rely on Sri Lanka’s weak external intelligence framework to conduct their activities with impunity.

The Case for an External Intelligence Agency

Most nations with significant geopolitical stakes have robust external intelligence services:

CIA (USA) – Specializes in global surveillance and counterterrorism.
MSS (China) – Monitors international security and political affairs.
FSB (Russia) – Focuses on intelligence and covert operations.
Mossad (Israel) – Conducts strategic foreign operations.
RAW (India) & ISI (Pakistan) – Operate actively in South Asia.

For Sri Lanka to safeguard its national security, it must establish its own External Intelligence Agency (EIA) to:

Track and neutralize external political interference.
Disrupt international criminal operations affecting Sri Lanka.
Monitor foreign espionage and counter-intelligence threats.
Identify terrorist and separatist activities abroad that threaten Sri Lanka.
Strengthen cyber intelligence against foreign influence campaigns.

Challenges & Immediate Priorities

One of the major challenges in setting up such an agency is funding and expertise. Currently, Sri Lanka’s Defense Attachés in foreign embassies operate with minimal facilities, often without proper offices or intelligence-sharing mechanisms.

To overcome these challenges, the new NPP-led government must prioritize:

Training elite intelligence officers in advanced counter-espionage tactics.
Deploying agents globally in key geopolitical hotspots.
Establishing intelligence-sharing agreements with friendly nations.
Securing state-of-the-art surveillance and cybersecurity capabilities.

A Matter of Urgency

As foreign powers continue to shape Sri Lanka’s political and economic future, the establishment of an External Intelligence Agency is no longer an option—it is a necessity.

If Sri Lanka is to preserve its sovereignty and protect its national interests globally, the new government must take immediate action to build a strong, well-equipped, and globally active intelligence force—one that ensures Sri Lanka is never blindsided by external threats again.