Colombo— Indonesian Navy ship KRI Sultan Iskandar Muda (SIM-367) berthed in Colombo following the completion of its one-year deployment with MTF TNI Konga XXVIII-P/UNIFIL 2024/2025. The ship brought 120 crew members, including 12 women personnel. KRI SIM-367 is part of Indonesia’s contribution to United Nations peacekeeping. Indonesia is currently ranked fifth among contributing countries. In 2025, Indonesia deployed 2,741 personnel, including 203 women.
During the berthing in Colombo, H.E. Dewi Gustina Tobing, Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, invited representatives of Sri Lankan peacekeepers to join a Dialogue and Sharing Experience on board KRI SIM-367. The dialogue was attended by Commodore Ardiansyah Muqsit, Indonesia’s Defence Attaché in New Delhi, and Lieutenant Colonel (Navy) Anugerah Annurullah, Commanding Officer of KRI SIM-367, alongside women peacekeepers from both countries.
In the discussion, the crew of KRI SIM-367 shared an overview of the ship and its UN peacekeeping-related duties, which focused on maritime surveillance and supporting maritime security. Within the UNIFIL Maritime Task Force, KRI SIM-367 operated alongside units from Germany, Bangladesh, Türkiye, and Greece. Indonesia was the only contingent operating a helicopter on board and was assigned as Helicopter Commander, with a total recorded flight time of 136 hours and 06 minutes. The ship’s women personnel serve across multiple departments, including Operations, Weapon Engineer, Machinery, Logistics, the Helicopter Unit, and Supporting Staff.
Sri Lankan women peacekeepers also shared perspectives from their deployments. Colonel W.T.A.S. Perera spoke about her experience in the Sahara, including interaction with local communities living around the area, describing the assignment as memorable and challenging. Another Sri Lankan woman peacekeeper shared her experience serving in UNIFIL, including work in the Joint Experience Centre. The discussion also touched upon the balance between professional duties and family life. After the dialogue, the participants were also invited for a brief walk-through of the ship.
Ambassador Dewi Gustina Tobing highlighted that women on board KRI SIM-367 serve in a range of specialised roles and responsibilities, demonstrating that women can carry critical operational duties across different fields, including aviation, with a woman Panther helicopter pilot, as well as other technical and mission-support functions. The Dialogue and Sharing Experience on board KRI Sultan Iskandar Muda (SIM-367) provided an opportunity for peacekeepers from Indonesia and Sri Lanka to connect, exchange perspectives, and strengthen mutual understanding on peacekeeping.
