Lanka, India Coast Guards strengthen maritime cooperation

The Indian and Sri Lankan Coast Guards have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral maritime cooperation, with emphasis on regional maritime security, operational coordination and disaster response.

The commitment was reiterated at the ninth India–Sri Lanka Coast Guard High-Level Meeting held at the Sri Lanka Coast Guard Headquarters.

The meeting was co-chaired by Indian Coast Guard Director General Paramesh Sivamani and Sri Lanka Coast Guard Director General Rear Admiral Ruwan Rupasena, who led their respective delegations.

The two sides reviewed measures to enhance operational coordination, capacity building, professional training and the exchange of technical expertise and best practices.

Discussions focused on coordination in search and rescue operations, preparedness and response to maritime pollution incidents, information sharing, Maritime Domain Awareness and standardising communication procedures.

The delegations also discussed mechanisms to exchange operational experiences and lessons learnt, particularly in Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief operations, to further strengthen the operational capabilities of the two Coast Guards.

The High-Level Meeting is held annually, alternately in India and Sri Lanka, under a Memorandum of Understanding between the two Coast Guard services.

The seventh meeting was held in Colombo in 2024, while the eighth was held in New Delhi in 2025.