Sri Lanka has reaffirmed the importance of preserving the Indian Ocean as a zone of peace, cooperation and shared prosperity in the face of evolving global security challenges. Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd.) made these remarks while addressing the 14th International Meeting of High-Ranking Officials Responsible for Security Matters in Moscow, Russia.
During his speech, the Defence Secretary highlighted the increasing geopolitical importance of the Indian Ocean and stressed the need to protect freedom of navigation, uphold international law and encourage constructive dialogue among nations to prevent regional tensions from escalating. He also emphasized the value of international cooperation and intelligence sharing in tackling emerging security threats.
Thuyacontha noted that challenges such as terrorism, cybercrime, maritime insecurity and climate-related risks require collective action and stronger partnerships among countries. The meeting brought together senior security officials from several nations to discuss global and regional security issues and explore ways to enhance cooperation in addressing common challenges.
