February 17, Colombo (LNW): Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar engaged in a productive meeting with Sri Lanka’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism, Vijitha Herath, on the sidelines of the 8th Indian Ocean Conference held in Muscat on Sunday (16).
Jaishankar, sharing details of the discussion on social media platform ‘X’ (formerly Twitter), described the meeting as “productive,” and said they had taken stock of the “wide-ranging cooperation” between India and Sri Lanka.
He reiterated India’s commitment to supporting Sri Lanka’s economic recovery and progress during the meeting.
The ongoing conference, taking place in the Sultanate of Oman, carries the theme ‘Voyage to New Horizons of Maritime Partnership.’ It is aimed at fostering dialogue on various regional and global issues, including enhancing maritime cooperation, boosting trade, addressing sustainable development, and safeguarding maritime security, with a strong focus on ensuring freedom of navigation and the use of modern technologies for improving port security and governance.
Earlier in the day, Jaishankar also met with former Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe, another key figure at the conference, as the discussions continued around vital issues impacting the region.
The Indian Ocean Conference is an important platform for countries surrounding the Indian Ocean to engage in dialogue and collaboration on shared challenges and opportunities.
Organised annually by India’s Ministry of External Affairs in partnership with the India Foundation, the event serves as a flagship consultative forum for deepening relationships, particularly in the areas of maritime security, trade, and regional cooperation.
