On Friday, February 9, President Ranil Wickremesinghe engaged in bilateral discussions with India’s External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar, on the sidelines of the 7th Indian Ocean Conference in Perth, Australia. The discussions focused on recognizing the advancements in bilateral cooperation, with both sides expressing a commitment to further deepen these ties.
President Wickremesinghe’s visit to Australia was initiated on Thursday, February 8, at the invitation of the India Foundation and the Government of Australia, specifically to attend the 7th Indian Ocean Conference. Themed “Towards a Stable and Sustainable Indian Ocean,” the conference aims to foster collaboration among 40 participating nations. President Wickremesinghe’s active participation reflects Sri Lanka’s proactive approach towards regional stability and development.
Accompanying the President is Foreign Minister Ali Sabry, who is slated to address the plenary session titled “Our Blue Future: How can the Indian Ocean region work with island states to safeguard the health of our shared ocean resources.” Sabry’s participation underscores Sri Lanka’s commitment to protecting and managing shared ocean resources.
The conference, organized by the India Foundation in conjunction with India’s Ministry of External Affairs and the Australian Government, receives additional support from the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Singapore, and Perth-US Asia Centre. Its primary objective is to establish a roadmap for the future of the Indian Ocean region.
Sri Lanka had previously hosted the second edition of the Indian Ocean Conference in 2017 under the patronage of then-Prime Minister Wickremesinghe. His current attendance underscores Sri Lanka’s dedication to regional diplomacy and active engagement in addressing common challenges for the collective benefit of Indian Ocean nations.
