Indian and Sri Lankan Coast Guards Reinforce Maritime Cooperation at 7th Annual High-Level Meeting

Colombo: The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and Sri Lanka Coast Guard (SLCG) convened for the 7th Annual High-Level Meeting in Colombo today, marking a significant step in collaborative efforts to strengthen maritime security in the region. The four-member ICG delegation, led by Director General S. Paramesh, and the SLCG delegation, headed by Director General Rear Admiral Y.R. Serasinghe, engaged in extensive discussions aimed at addressing shared maritime challenges.

This annual meeting reaffirmed both nations’ commitment to enhancing regional maritime security, focusing on key issues such as drug trafficking, marine pollution, mariner safety, adoption of best practices, and capacity-building initiatives. The discussions yielded renewed commitments to mutual cooperation, underlining the importance of a secure maritime environment and the safety of seafarers.

The cooperative dialogue aligns with the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) established in May 2018, which institutionalized an annual meeting mechanism to foster seamless coordination between the two maritime agencies. Both delegations emphasized the strategic need for collaborative efforts to mitigate common threats, ensuring a resilient and secure maritime framework.

As a part of this institutionalized collaboration, the 8th Annual High-Level Meeting will be hosted by the Indian Coast Guard in 2025, furthering the robust partnership between India and Sri Lanka in their shared mission to safeguard the region’s waters.