Lanka, India share not only a sea but also security: High Commissioner

Sri Lanka and India share not only a sea but also security, Sri Lankan High Commissioner to India Mahishini Colonne said, reaffirming Colombo’s commitment not to allow its territory to be used in a manner detrimental to India’s security.

Addressing the Indian Navy’s annual international strategic dialogue, the Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue 2026 (IPRD-2026), which began in New Delhi on Tuesday, Colonne said President Anura Kumara Dissanayake had given the assurance to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and had reiterated it on several occasions.

“India and Sri Lanka share not only a sea but also security. As our President has assured Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Sri Lanka will never allow its territory to be used in any manner that is inimical to India’s security,” she said.

She said the security understanding between the two countries provided a strong foundation for expanding cooperation in ocean research, maritime security and disaster preparedness.

Emphasising Sri Lanka’s dependence on the ocean, Colonne said the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) was about eight times larger than its land area, making marine resources, fisheries, ports and coastal protection critical to its future.

She stressed that regional cooperation in ocean science was essential as no country could fully understand or protect its maritime domain in isolation.

Colonne also acknowledged India’s contribution to Sri Lanka’s disaster preparedness and emergency response capabilities, particularly through ocean forecasting and early warning systems.

Recalling Cyclone Ditwah in November last year, she said Indian naval vessels already stationed in Colombo began unloading relief supplies within hours of the emergency, with India remaining Sri Lanka’s first and largest responder.

The High Commissioner called for greater cooperation between Indian and Sri Lankan scientists through the sharing of maritime data, research expertise and technological resources.

She also stressed the need to invest in young scientists, engineers and legal professionals to strengthen the region’s blue economy and maritime governance.

Referring to regional mechanisms, Colonne highlighted the Colombo Security Conclave, whose Secretariat Sri Lanka is set to host, and the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), whose chairmanship has passed from Sri Lanka to India.

She expressed hope that initiatives such as the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) would complement existing regional institutions and evolve into long-term partnerships based on mutual trust and confidence.