ANNUAL HIGH-LEVEL MEETING BETWEEN INDIAN COAST GUARD & SRI LANKA COAST GUARD HELD ON 20 AUG 19 NEW DELHI, INDIA

The 4th High Level Meeting (HLM) between Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and Sri Lanka Coast Guard (SLCG) was held on 20th August 2019 at Coast Guard Headquarters, New Delhi. The SLCG delegation was led by Rear Admiral GDAS Wimalathunge, RWP, VSV, USP, nswc, MSc (DS) Mgt, MA (SSS), MSc, (NS &WS), Director General, Sri Lanka Coast Guard and the ICG delegation was led by Director General K Natarajan, PTM, TM, chief of Indian Coast Guard.

The meeting was conducted in a friendly environment and many issues related to fishing activities, security, capacity building, cooperation, sharing of information, and participation in bi/multi-lateral exercises, were discussed at the meeting.

The meeting commenced with the opening address by DGICG wherein he formally welcomed the visiting delegation and highlighted the growing cooperation between the two Coast Guards. DGICG mentioned that training and capacity building of SLCG will remain a key focus area for ICG in our cooperative engagement. The establishment of points of contact between both Coast Guard and its utilization in exchanging information and conducting a coordinate operated operation resulting in successful apprehension of drug trafficking was highlighted. DGICG created the success of the operation mutual trust resolve of both Coast Guard to keep the seas safe, secure and clean through a collaboration appr oach.

In his opening remarks, the DG - SLCG mentioned that maritime security was of utmost priority in the region and both Coast Guard are playing a key role in ensuring the same. DGSLCG appreciated ICG for sharing information on drug trafficking and conducting a coordinated operation with Sri Lanka Navy/ Coast guard resulting in the apprehension of the drug traffickers. Further he highlighted the signing of MoU between two Coast Guards on ‘The Establishment of ollaborative Relationship to Combat Transnational Illegal Activities at Sea and Develop Regional Cooperation between SLCG&ICG’ was another important event.

Further, Sri Lankan delegation paid courtesy calls to His Excellency the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka, and Secretary, Defence of India.