Sri Lanka High Commission in Ottawa

Hon. Mariya Didi, Defence Minister of Maldives,
Shri Ajit Doval, National Security Adviser of India,
Defence Secretary Major General Kamal Gunaratne,
Foreign Secretary Admiral Professor Jayanath Colombage,
Distinguished delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Let me, at the outset, warmly welcome you and the visiting delegations from India and Maldives to this important Trilateral Security Meeting, which is being convened after a lapse of six years. I also welcome to our midst the latest Observer Bangladesh and of course Mauritius and Seychelles who have been with us as observers since 2014.

Your presence in Colombo, despite the challenges, posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, amply demonstrates the commitment – both individually and collectively- to the common purpose  of collaborating on our key maritime security interests and for the region’s stability and wellbeing.  Our national priorities demand of us to collaborate in order to ensure our collective security and wellbeing. As littoral States, the Indian Ocean holds a vital conduit for our prosperity and as some have said, it may well define the destiny of the planet in the 21st century.  This forum provides us with a valuable platform to pursue these goals.

Our Security is not limited to physical security and consequent regional stability, but also encompasses nontraditional security challenges including threats to marine environment.  Over exploitation of ocean-based living and natural resources, pollution, threats posed by oil spills and chemicals, acidification of the seas and sea-level rise are also among our concerns.

The Indian Ocean is the world’s third largest, it commands 60% of the world’s GDP; sees 80% of the world’s ship borne energy transport through its oceans and; facilitates 46% of the world’s merchandise trade.  Fifty five percent (55%) of the world’s container traffic ply through these oceans.  As littoral states located in the key parts of the Indian Ocean. Maritime security remains  one of our highest priorities amidst increasingly busy international sea lanes in the Indian Ocean.

As it is to all of you,  Sri Lanka sees the opportunities the Indian Ocean holds. With these opportunities comes responsibilities to our people, to the region and the world at large.  Respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity is a founding pillar of our engagement. We see the importance of maintaining freedom of navigation in our seas and air space and protecting sea lines of communication and the undersea cables.  We believe all countries should adhere to and respect international law, including the UN Convention on Law of the Sea [UNCLOS].

Few weeks after the Enlightenment of Gauthama the Buddha, twenty six centuries ago, ‘Tapassu’ and ‘Ballucca’ became the first two followers of the Buddha.  They were successful merchants travelling in the Indian Ocean.  Infact when Hair Relics of the Buddha were gifted to them they travelled to the North Eastern port of Trincomalee, and having deposited the sacred relics they then built ‘Girihanduseya’ which to date is worshipped by the Buddhists. The two merchants then set off to Chittagong and Myanmar through Bay of Bengal.

Such historic encounters, were frequent and establishes the fact that without insulating our mutual security in the Indian Ocean through close cooperation, none can claim of invincibility.  In one perspective, the European powers that dominated our region from the 16th Century to mid-20th Century AD conquered the East through Arabian Seas and the Indian Ocean mainly due to their superior maritime capabilities.

Monetary Policy Review: No. 07 - October 2022

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka maintains policy interest rates at their current levels