Colombo, February 14 – Sri Lanka’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism, Vijitha Herath, will participate in the 8th Indian Ocean Conference (IOC), scheduled to take place from February 16–17, 2025, in Muscat, Oman.
The Indian Ocean Conference, a flagship forum for nations in the Indian Ocean region, is organized annually by India’s Ministry of External Affairs, in collaboration with the India Foundation. This year’s edition is being held in partnership with Oman’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs under the theme: “Voyages to New Horizons of Maritime Partnership.”
Minister Herath is scheduled to address the first plenary session on February 16, focusing on regional maritime security, economic integration, and sustainable development in the Indian Ocean region.
The conference will bring together ministers and officials from over 60 countries and international organizations. In addition to his address, Minister Herath will hold bilateral discussions with regional counterparts on strengthening economic partnerships and maritime cooperation.
Sri Lanka has played a significant role in previous IOC meetings, having hosted the second edition in Colombo in 2017.
