Local News from Sri Lanka: The Indian Coast Guard held a high-level meeting with the Sri Lankan Coast Guard at Coast Guard Headquarters in New Delhi on Tuesday and addressed a range of maritime security issues. Coast Guard K Natarajan headed the Indian side, while Rear Admiral Samantha Wimalathunge headed the Sri Lankan delegation, the Indian Ministry of Defense declaration said.
The meeting was held in accordance with the MoU provisions signed between the two parties to establish a cooperative partnership to combat transnational illegal operations at sea and to establish regional collaboration. During the conference, both parties agreed to enhance collaboration in addressing a spectrum of maritime safety and security problems.
Sri Lanka’s apprehension of two fishing ships engaged in drug trafficking on the basis of the data exchange conducted by the Indian Coast Guard invoking the MoU has been acknowledged as an significant enabler in achieving further cooperative reaction to evolving circumstances at sea.
