Indonesian Navy Warship Docks in Colombo After UNIFIL Mission

Colombo: Indonesian Navy warship KRI Sultan Iskandar Muda (SIM-367) docked at the Port of Colombo after completing a one-year deployment with the Indonesian Maritime Task Force (MTF) XXVIII-P/UNIFIL 2024/2025 in Lebanon.

The vessel carried 120 crew members, including 12 female personnel. KRI SIM-367 was part of Indonesia’s contribution to United Nations peacekeeping operations. Indonesia currently ranks fifth among troop-contributing countries to UN peacekeeping missions. In 2025, Indonesia deployed 2,741 peacekeepers, including 203 women.

During the port visit in Colombo, Indonesian Ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Maldives Dewi Gustina Tobing invited representatives of Sri Lankan UN peacekeepers to take part in a Dialogue and Sharing Experience session aboard the warship.



The event was attended by Indonesian Defense Attaché in New Delhi Commodore Ardiansyah Muqsit, KRI SIM-367 Commander Lt. Col. (Navy) Anugerah Annurullah, and female peacekeepers from both countries.

During the discussion, the crew of KRI SIM-367 presented an overview of the vessel and its duties under the UN peacekeeping mission, which focused on maritime surveillance and maritime security support. Within the UNIFIL Maritime Task Force, KRI SIM-367 operated alongside vessels from Germany, Bangladesh, Türkiye, and Greece.

Indonesia was the only contingent operating an onboard helicopter and was assigned the role of Helicopter Commander, with a total recorded flight time of 136 hours and six minutes. Female personnel aboard the ship served in various units, including operations, weapons, engineering, logistics, the helicopter unit, and support staff.



Sri Lankan female peacekeepers also shared their deployment experiences. Colonel W.T.A.S. Perera spoke about her mission in the Sahara, including interactions with local communities, describing the assignment as both challenging and memorable.

Another Sri Lankan female peacekeeper shared her experience serving with UNIFIL, including her role at the Joint Experience Centre. The discussion also touched on efforts to balance professional duties with family life. Following the dialogue, Sri Lankan participants were invited to join a brief tour of the vessel.

“The participation of female personnel aboard KRI SIM-367 demonstrated their ability to carry out operational roles across multiple sectors, including aviation, technical functions, and mission support,” said Ambassador Dewi Gustina Tobing, quoted from the embassy official statement.

The Dialogue and Sharing Experience session provided an opportunity for Indonesian and Sri Lankan peacekeepers to exchange perspectives and strengthen mutual understanding on peacekeeping operations.