The 11th Galle Dialogue International Maritime Conference, organized by the Sri Lanka Navy in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence and Geopolitical Cartographer (GC), commenced on October 12 at the Jetwing Lighthouse in Galle.

Under the patronage of President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Ranil Wickremesinghe, and Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera, the two-day conference began with the theme “Emerging New Order in the Indian Ocean.” Maritime representatives from 42 countries, along with 11 international organizations and defense industry organizations, had been invited to participate.

Addressing the challenges of non-traditional threats in the maritime domain, the conference focuses on issues such as sea piracy, smuggling of humans, drugs, arms, and Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing practices. The event emphasizes the need for a collaborative strategy to achieve maritime economic goals while ensuring safety and security.

In his welcome remarks, Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera thanked President Ranil Wickremesinghe for attending the inaugural session. The President highlighted the significance of the conference in the evolving geopolitical landscape of the Indo-Pacific and Indian Ocean regions.

Keynote speaker President Ranil Wickremesinghe praised the Sri Lanka Navy for resuming the Galle Dialogue after pandemic-related disruptions. He emphasized the importance of analyzing the dynamic geopolitical landscape and fostering cooperation among nations to shape the future of the Indian Ocean.

Opening remarks by Dr. Ram Madhav, President of India Foundation, marked the beginning of the plenary discussion session, focusing on the theme “Emerging New Order in the Indian Ocean.” Subsequent sessions covered topics such as “Maritime Security Concerns” and “Maritime Synergy to Foster Blue Economy.”

On the second day, the conference explored themes related to Maritime Environment Protection for Collaborative Maritime Prosperity, Maritime Domain Awareness, and Collaborative Enforcement for Sustainable Ocean Governance. Bilateral discussions between Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera and international maritime leaders were held on the sidelines of the conference.