Since South East Asia was part of Indosphere of Greater India since earlier, during and after the Hinduised Srivijaya empire, Hindu titles based on Sanskrit were used.
As the commander of the Malaccan fleet, the Laksamana held significant authority, outranked only by the Bendahara (prime minister) and the Sultan.
In addition to his naval duties, the Laksamana also served in roles akin to a modern-day head of diplomatic affairs and vice minister of war.
Similarly, the Rekidai Hoan, an official record from the Ryukyu Kingdom, mentions a Malaccan diplomatic envoy led by "Lezoumana" or "Lo-hsi-ma-na", reflecting the Laksamana’s international significance.
[3] Historical sources, including the Suma Oriental and the Malay Annals, identify only three named Laksamana during the Sultanate's history.