The Third Round of Senior Officials ‘ Talks between Sri Lanka and Australia took place at Colombo’s Foreign Ministry recently. The Sri Lankan delegation was led by the Foreign Ministry’s Additional Secretary, Bilateral Affairs (East), P. Selvaraj, while the Australian Delegation was led by Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s First Assistant Secretary, South West Asia Division, Dr. Lachlan Strahan.
The two nations held comprehensive discussions onenhancing co-operation across the wide spectrum of relationships, including transnational organized crime, defence, reconciliation and human rights, development partnership, co-operation with the Foreign Ministry, and regional and multilateral issues. Both parties decided to keep the great momentum in the relationship, highlighting their dedication to a rule-based, open and inclusive national order and enhancing regional architecture, including the Association for the Indian Ocean Rim and the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium.
The inaugural gathering of the Strategic Maritime Dialog held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs between Sri Lanka and Australia on 16 September 2019 preceded the Third Round of Senior Officials ‘ Talks.
The Sri Lankan delegation was headed by Foreign Ministry Additional Secretary, Multilateral Affairs Ahmed A. Jawad, while First Assistant Secretary Dr. Lachlan Strahan was headed by the Australian delegation.
The Dialog highlighted the significance of working together in the Indian Ocean on maritime safety and security and working together on projects linked to the blue economy.
Also held on 17 September 2019 was the Joint Commission on Bilateral Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) between the two nations.
