Cabinet clears to advance Colombo Security Conclave regional cooperation 

The Cabinet of Ministers this week cleared the proposal presented by President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who serves as the Defence Minister to enhance the operational efficiency of the Colombo Security Conclave.

The approved measures include signing a charter to streamline the Conclave’s functions, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) regarding the proposed Secretariat in Colombo and a headquarters agreement outlining the Secretariat’s functions.

The Colombo Security Conclave was established to address maritime security in the Indian Ocean and confront common security threats among member countries and operates based on the shared core values of its participating nations. 

The Conclave functions as a regional organisation at present with member states - India, Maldives, Mauritius and Sri Lanka, whilst Bangladesh and Seychelles serve as observer states. 

“The signed charter is poised to enhance coordination and cooperation among member nations, strengthening a more streamlined and effective approach to maritime security challenges. The MoU concerning the Secretariat aims to establish a robust organisational structure in Colombo, solidifying the Conclave’s administrative foundation,” Cabinet Co-Spokesman and Minister Bandula Gunawardena said at the post-Cabinet meeting media briefing yesterday.