June 03, Colombo (LNW): Richard Marles, Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, commenced an official visit to Sri Lanka this morning (03), marking a significant diplomatic engagement aimed at deepening bilateral ties between the two nations.
Upon his arrival, he was formally welcomed at Bandaranaike International Airport by Deputy Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs, Sunil Watagala.
This visit, seen as a reaffirmation of Australia’s growing interest in South Asian regional partnerships, includes a series of high-level meetings with senior members of the Sri Lankan government.
Marles is scheduled to hold discussions with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, whose administration has been working to reposition Sri Lanka as a strategic hub in the Indian Ocean through a policy of non-alignment and diversified international engagement.
The discussions are expected to cover a broad spectrum of issues including maritime security, defence capacity-building, and regional cooperation on transnational threats.
Marles will also meet with Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath, who oversees not only diplomatic affairs but also labour migration and tourism—two sectors where collaboration with Australia continues to grow.
The Australian government has expressed interest in expanding opportunities for skilled migration from Sri Lanka, particularly in healthcare and engineering, whilst also encouraging increased tourism exchanges.
A key engagement during the visit will be a formal luncheon hosted at Australia House in Colombo, where Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya is expected to be the Chief Guest. The event, attended by government officials, business leaders, and representatives from civil society, is aimed at fostering people-to-people connections alongside formal state-level dialogue.
Defence cooperation remains central to Mr Marles’ agenda. He is set to engage in detailed bilateral talks with Sri Lanka’s Deputy Minister of Defence, Major General (Retired) Aruna Jayasekara. These discussions are likely to address joint training initiatives, maritime surveillance, and enhancing interoperability between the two countries’ defence forces.
Australia has provided support in areas such as naval capability development and disaster response coordination in the past, and there are expectations of new frameworks being proposed to deepen such assistance.
Marles is accompanied by a delegation of senior officials from Australia’s Department of Defence, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and the Prime Minister’s Office, underscoring the strategic weight of the visit.
