33^RD INTERNATIONAL MARITIME BOUNDARY LINE MEETING STRENGTHENS INDO-SRI LANKAN MARITIME TIES

On 03^rd November 2023, the 33^rd International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) meeting between the Indian and Sri Lankan Coast Guards and Navies took place aboard INS Sumitra at the Indo-Sri Lankan Maritime Boundary Line, located north of Kankesanthurai. The annual IMBL meeting serves the vital purpose of fostering connections and sharing strategic perspectives between the Navies and Coast Guards of these neighbouring nations, as they jointly tackle shared maritime challenges in the Indian Ocean Region.

The Sri Lankan delegation at the IMBL meeting was led by Rear Admiral Kanchana Banagoda, the Commander of the North Central Naval Area. On the Indian side, the delegation was headed by Rear Admiral Ravi Kumar Dhingra, the Flag Officer Commanding Tamil Nadu and Puducherry Naval Area.

Throughout the meeting, representatives from both parties engaged in discussions concerning the security of their respective maritime borders and exchanged insights into the progress made in previous IMBL meetings. The Sri Lanka Coast Guard was also well represented, with Senior Staff Officer Operations, Commander Prashan Perera, participating alongside senior naval officials, including Deputy Area Commander Northern Naval Area, Commodore Nimal Ranasinghe, and Director Naval Operations, Commodore Aruna Weerasinghe.

The 33^rd IMBL meeting concluded on a positive note, with both delegations reaffirming their commitment to continued collaboration in addressing the common maritime challenges in the region. This collaborative effort between India and Sri Lanka demonstrates the significance of strengthening maritime cooperation, ensuring the security and stability of the Indian Ocean and enhancing bilateral ties. The successful outcome of this meeting underscores the importance of such diplomatic engagements in promoting regional peace and prosperity.