Monday, 25 November 2013 00:00
-
- {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
To focus on maritime trends in Indian Ocean
Sri Lanka, being an important player and stakeholder with its strategic location, will examine the emerging trends in the Indian Ocean at the annual international maritime security conference this year.
‘Galle Dialogue 2013’, the fourth annual maritime security conference organised by the Sri Lanka Navy under the aegis of the Ministry of Defence and Urban Development will be held on 25 and 26 November at the Light House Hotel in Galle.
The two-day conference under the theme ‘Emerging Maritime Trends in the Indian Ocean’ will bring together local and foreign scholars and experts in maritime and naval affairs representing 35 countries to share their views.
The forum will focus on examining the emerging trends in the Indian Ocean which have potentials to destabilise the regional peaceful coexistence as well as promote interdependency which stabilise the coexistence.
The trends, according to the organisers, are far-flung with commerce, trade, resources, legal, security, sovereignty and threats and involve many stakeholders.
Securing the sea lines of communication (SLOC) in the Indian Ocean from threats poses a challenge while the region as an entity is prone to many other non-traditional threats now prevailing in the region.
Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy, Vice Admiral Jayanath Colombage will welcome the attendees and Secretary of Defence, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa will deliver the keynote address at the inaugural session.
During the first session, Secretary to the President, Lalith Weeratunga will also address the gathering.
The ‘Galle Dialogue’ initiative, inaugurated in 2010, created a forum to discuss and exchange views on regional maritime security concerns.
For more information: www.galledialogue.com
