‘Colombo Security Conclave’ Focuses Further Promotion of Region’s Maritime Security

The 5th Deputy National Security Advisors’ (DNSA) Level virtual meeting, ‘Colombo Security Conclave’ (CSC), related to maritime security in the region commenced on Wednesday (4) at the Army Headquarters with the participation of top level security officials from India, Maldives and Sri Lanka.

General Shavendra Silva, Sri Lanka’s Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army and Head of the National Operation Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO), together with a representative group of Tri-Service Officers represented Sri Lanka during this Trilateral Maritime Security Cooperation forum which largely focused on the security of regional maritime operations, prevention of smuggle of contraband, sea piracy, threat perceptions, close trilateral co-operation for further enhancement of security concerns, mitigation of illegal activities in the seas, etc

The CSC forum, meant to further promote maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region was first initiated by HE the President Gotabaya Rajapaksa several years ago in 2011 as the platform for Trilateral Maritime Security Cooperation among India, Maldives and Sri Lanka when he was serving as the Secretary of Defence to the Ministry of Defence.

This year's conclave also discussed current security measures, provisions, use of latest technology, bilateral cooperation and effectiveness and sustainability of such security measures among nations in the region, etc.

The virtual session was held throughout the day exchanged views and shared experiences among the nations that could further enhance trilateral cooperation for the betterment of the region and trilateral joint operations. The sessions were attended by Major General Priyantha Perera - Chief of Staff Sri Lanka Army, Rear Admiral Y.N Jayarathne - Deputy Chief of Staff Sri Lanka Navy, Air Vice Marshal A.P Payoe - Chief of Staff Sri Lanka Air Force, Rear Admiral G.E.W.M.A.N Ekanayake - Director General Sri Lanka Coast Guard, Rear Admiral P.S Mahavitharana - Director General Operations Sri Lanka Navy, Air Vice Marshal R.A.U.P Rajapaksha - Southern Air Commander Sri Lanka Air Force, Major General Ashoka Peiris - Chief Signal Officer Sri Lanka Army, Air Commodore A.S Vithana - Director Information Technology Sri Lanka Air Force, Brigadier Shantha Ranaweera - Director Operations Sri Lanka Army, Colonel P.S Subath Sanjeewa - Secretary to the Virtual Meeting, Major N.K.H Nehinna - Representative from the Ministry of Defence, Mrs Chamari Rodrigo - Director General, SA & SAARC Division Foreign Ministry Sri Lanka, Mr Mahesh Premathilaka - Deputy Director SA & SAARC Division Foreign Ministry Sri Lanka, SSP W.M Samarakoon Banda - Director Human Trafficking Human Smuggling & Maritime Crimes of CID, Sri Lanka Police and SSP P.A.B.N Pallearachchi - Deputy Director/State Intelligence Service Sri Lanka Police.

Meanwhile, the CSC Secretariat at the Office of the Chief of Defence Staff issued the attached Media Release this afternoon (6).

(Media Release)

‘Colombo Security Conclave - 2021’ Focuses on Further Promotion of Maritime Security and Total Security in the Region

Last year, the 4th National Security Advisor (NSA) Level Meeting on Maritime Security Cooperation between Maldives, Sri Lanka and India had been held at Colombo on 28th November. The Maldivian side had been led by Ms. UzaMariya Ahmed Didi, Minister of Defence and National Security; the Sri Lankan side by then Maj. Gen. (Retd.) Kamal Gunaratne, Secretary, Ministry of Defence; and the Indian side by Shri AjitDoval, National Security Advisor. Underlining the importance of timely implementation of decisions, the participants had agreed that the Deputy NSA level Working Group can meet to implement the technical and operational details of agreed decisions. It was also agreed to rename the forum as “Colombo Security Conclave” (CSC).

Accordingly, the 5th Deputy National Security Advisor (DNSA) Level meeting, of ‘Colombo Security Conclave’, was hosted virtually on 04th August 2021 by Sri Lanka at the Army Headquarters under the Chairmanship of General Shavendra Silva, the Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army and Head of the National Operation Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO), together with an expert senior delegation representing Sri Lanka and representatives of Ministry of Defence and Foreign Ministry.

Forum was co-chaired virtually by Heads of delegations of member countries namely Shri Pankaj Saran, Deputy NSA (Strategic Affairs), National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) of India and Ms Aishath Nooshin Waheed, Secretary, National Security Advisor’s Office, the President’s Office of Maldives.

In addition, Lieutenant General Waker Uz Zaman, SGP, psc, Principal Staff Officer of Armed Forces Division of Bangladesh Army; Mrs Pusmawtee Sohun, Deputy Permanent Secretary, Prime Minister’s Office (Defence and Home Affairs Division) of Mauritius and Colonel Michael Rosette, Chief of Defence Forces, Seychelles People’s Defence Forces, too, contributed to the CSC forum as Observer countries.

During this year’s Conclave, the delegates discussed matters on maritime Security, Radicalization, Transnational Crime, Counter Terrorism, Joint Training and Cyber Security. Views and experiences, that could further enhance trilateral cooperation for the betterment of the region and trilateral joint operations, were shared throughout the Sessions, all the member countries recognizing that neither the security issues nor the solutions are exclusive to one country, and all need to work together to achieve a cohesive and effective security cooperation that transcends borders.