The Coast Guard of India and Sri Lanka convened a high-level meeting in Colombo on Monday, aiming to deepen cooperation in tackling maritime challenges and bolstering regional safety and security frameworks. The four-member Indian Coast Guard (ICG) delegation, led by Director General S. Paramesh, joined their Sri Lankan counterparts under Sri Lanka Coast Guard (SLCG) Director General Rear Admiral Y.R. Serasinghe. This meeting, the seventh of its kind, marked a significant milestone in collaborative efforts between the two forces, according to the Ministry of Defence (MoD).
The 7th high-level meeting between #ICG and Sri Lanka Coast Guard (#SLCG) was convened at #Colombo today. The meeting marks a significant milestone in the collaborative efforts aimed at combating transnational illegal activities at sea and promoting regional cooperation. The… pic.twitter.com/CeDuYCadK9
— Indian Coast Guard (@IndiaCoastGuard) November 11, 2024
The 7th Annual High-Level Meeting underscores the dedication of both coast guards to addressing maritime challenges collectively, with a focus on issues like drug trafficking, marine pollution, mariner safety, adoption of best practices, capacity-building programs, and other cooperative initiatives. “The outcome of the meeting reaffirmed the commitment to enhance mutual cooperation, further fortifying the maritime safety and security framework in the region,” the statement read.
This annual meeting aligns with an institutional mechanism established by a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in May 2018 between the two maritime agencies. The next edition, the 8th Annual Meeting, is scheduled to be hosted by the ICG in 2025.
Team BharatShakti
