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    India, Sri Lanka and Maldives agree to bolster maritime security cooperation

    Synopsis

    According to a joint statement issued by Sri Lanka's Ministry of Defence, the three countries -- recognising the significance of the forum for promoting meaningful cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region on common issues pertaining to maritime security -- took stock of the current maritime security environment in the region.

    Untitled-5ANI
    NSA Ajit Doval, Major General (Retd) G.D.H. Kamal Gunaratne Defence Secretary of Sri Lanka, Mariya Didi Defence MInister of Maldives attend the India Sri Lanka Maldives trilateral meeting in Colombo on Saturda
    NEW DELHI: National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on Saturday took part in the trilateral maritime dialogue in Colombo among India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives eyeing to counter terrorism & radicalism through effective intelligence cooperation. The partnership also assumes significance amid Beijing’s growing ambitions in the Indo-Pacific region including Indian Ocean Region.

    The dialogue was held here after a gap of six years. The last meeting was held in New Delhi in 2014.

    The discussions of the trilateral meeting were formalised through signing of the minutes by Doval, Sri Lankan Defence Secretary Major Gen (Retd.) Kamal Gunaratne and Maldivian Defence Minister Mariya Didi.

    Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena addressed the meeting as the chief guest. Foreign Secretary Admiral Prof. Jayanath Colombage also attended the event.

    The meeting was attended by observers from Bangladesh, Mauritius and Seychelles. This is significant as India is often regarded a net security provider in the region.

    Doval, who arrived in Colombo on Friday for the dialogue, on Friday met Didi and held a cordial and detailed discussion on deepening strategic & security partnership.

    Doval also met Gunaratne on Friday and they agreed on several steps to further strengthen the "valuable" cooperation between the two countries which also contributes to peace and security in the region.

    "NSA Ajit Doval met Major Gen(Retd.) Kamal Gunaratne, Defence Secretary of SriLanka & discussed matters pertaining to the growing defence and security partnership between the two countries," the Indian High Commission in Colombo said in a tweet.

    The high-level trilateral meeting is designed to initiate collective action on maritime security including maritime domain awareness, legal regimes, train in search and rescue, maritime pollution response, information sharing, curbing piracy drugs arms and contraband trafficking in the Indian Ocean region.

    This is Doval’s second official visit to Sri Lanka this year. In January, he visited the island nation and discussed a range of bilateral issues, including strengthening cooperation in defence, intelligence sharing and maritime security with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.


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