February 09, Colombo (LNW): President Ranil Wickremesinghe departed for Perth on February 8 to participate in the Seventh Indian Ocean Conference (IOC) scheduled for February 9 to 10 in Australia. Invited by the India Foundation and the Government of Australia, President Wickremesinghe’s presence at the conference is poised to play a pivotal role in shaping discussions, reinforcing Sri Lanka’s commitment to regional collaboration.
As a key participant, President Wickremesinghe is slated to deliver the keynote address at the event, which focuses on fostering dialogue and cooperation within the Indian Ocean Region under the theme “Towards a Stable and Sustainable Indian Ocean.” The conference aims to bring together representatives from 40 nations to discuss and enhance cooperation in the region.
Foreign Minister Ali Sabry is accompanying the President and is scheduled 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?” His participation underscores Sri Lanka’s dedication to safeguarding shared ocean resources.
Organized by the India Foundation in collaboration with India’s Ministry of External Affairs and the Australian Government, and with support from the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Singapore, and Perth-US Asia Centre, the conference seeks to chart a roadmap for the future of the Indian Ocean region. Notably, Sri Lanka had previously hosted the second edition of the Indian Ocean Conference in 2017, demonstrating its active involvement in regional initiatives.
President Wickremesinghe’s attendance at the Seventh IOC underscores Sri Lanka’s commitment to regional diplomacy and its proactive engagement in addressing common challenges for the collective benefit of Indian Ocean nations.
